Hi everybody!
I just read an article in Scientific American (October 2003) on a new, less expensive, more efficient method of extracting Ti from it's ore!!! What is the significance of this discovery??? Well for starters, Titanium will be cheaper as a result and that means more readily available... This also means that designers and engineers will be more inclined to use this metal and it's alloys for uses other than there traditional or present uses which means that more welders will need to be trained in the proper welding techniques and methods of handling Ti and it's alloys in preparation for welding!!! Now the demand for Ti welders will not increase overnight but, in only a few number (3 to 5) of years the need will increase!!! Many hurdles still exist though so the debate about the best way toto achieve low cost Ti persists. But the big payoffs - such as making a next generation airliner or a less weighty SUV, less weighty military vehicles with greater armour protection, deeper diving submarines, etc. ensures that the quest will continue!!!
I'm going to sleep now..............zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Respectfully,
SSBN727 Run Silent... Run Deep!!!
P.S. This article is titled "Alchemy of a Supermetal" It's content can be read at this website:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&collD+0009E8E9-8896-1F60-905980A84189EEDF