COVER STORY Ocean Foresight* Seven-day forecasts of ocean ‘weather’ – temperature, salinity and currents – will benefit seafarers, fishermen and even tourists Full Story

ARTICLES

Metals that can quickly self-repair cracks and respond to fatigue will be used to improve the performance of metal components
Full Story
 

CSIRO scientists have borrowed from the insect world to develop a blueprint for a versatile new rubber-like substance
Full Story
 

A simple, new water-based primer should help boost native hardwood use in timber furniture and building materials
Full Story
 

Finding a ‘sunscreen’ or protective coating suitable for plastics or timber products is now being addressed by CSIRO researchers
Full Story
 

A new industry is being created as research uses agricultural products to create alternatives to petrochemical-based plastics
Full Story
 

From space travel to detecting needles in meat, the science of ‘advanced materials’ is fast opening up new industrial frontiers
Full Story
 

ACOUSTIC ANALYSIS: Good Vibrations

Technology that deploys acoustic waves will allow operators of large industrial plants to ‘hear’ how their machinery is performing
Full Story
 

TEXTILES: Shaping Human Healing

Advanced textile technologies may hold the key to more efficient tissue engineering techniques by creating a ‘scaffolding’ on which cells grow
Full Story
 

MATERIALS: Plastic Meltdown a Lifesaver

A polymer that transforms into a fireproof ceramic could have major ramifications for buildings, vehicles and industrial equipment
Full Story
 

STRATEGIC CHANGE: Change Needs a Scientific Response

The Chief Executive of CSIRO explains how a changing economy and business landscape are influencing CSIRO’s approach to R&D
Full Story
 

LIGHT METALS: Process Innovation to Create New Metals Industry*

Revolutionary technology emerging from the Light Metals Flagship could open the door to a competitive titanium industry in Australia
Full Story
 

WATER FOR A HEALTHY COUNTRY: Waste Not, Want Not*

Researchers are exploring options for reusing wastewater and probing community attitudes to recycled water
Full Story
 

ENERGY TRANSFORMED: Solar Energy in a Tank*

The power of the sun can turn a fossil fuel into a powerful new ‘clean and green’ energy source, thanks to CSIRO researchers
Full Story
 

POLYMER CHEMISTRY: cRAFTing Better Polymers

Controlling the polymer creation process builds stronger and more resistant synthetic products than previously possible
Full Story
 

SUPPLY CHAINS: Simulation to Crunch the Numbers for Coal Terminal

Mathematical computer modelling is now playing an important and increasing role in highly complex coal terminal operations
Full Story
 

WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY: New Shores Waiting for Net Surfers

The next generation in wireless local area networks is coming and CSIRO scientists are helping set the standard
Full Story
 

FLUID DYNAMICS: Going With the Flow

Predicting the flow of a fluid in an industrial, mining or medical setting can have far-reaching effects, from the bottom line to patients’ health
Full Story

OR DOWNLOAD COMPLETE ISSUE IN
PDF format

*National Research Flagships
The National Research Flagship program – one of the largest scientific initiatives ever mounted in Australia – is specifically designed to integrate and focus our national scientific resources on challenges of the utmost importance to Australia.The Flagships are large (100 or more) multidisciplinary research teams that focus the best of Australia’s scientific resources on the most critical challenges we face as a nation. These teams combine the best talent from CSIRO, universities and other research bodies, business and industry. The Australian Government has made this possible through the investment of an additional $305 million in CSIRO over seven years..

Strong and expanding consumer, industrial and aerospace markets have led to unprecedented global demand for titanium metal and Australia could stand to benefit from these growing needs.

Australia has the largest source of titanium minerals. Yet if Australia wishes to capitalise on the growth in demand for the mineral, it must decide if, and how, to add value within the country. One way of achieving this is through new technology.

Today’s shortage of titanium metal is primarily due to insufficient titanium sponge – the metallic form of titanium – and not the ore. So new metal capacity is required to serve existing and expanding markets. This will require adding new capacity to existing facilities or building new ‘greenfield’ facilities using current, or possibly new, technology.

Several Australian initiatives are aimed at developing new technology that would lower the cost of producing titanium metal, making it more attractive to existing and new markets.

The aerospace market is the strongest driver of increased titanium use – new designs contain about twice the amount of titanium compared to previous-generation airframes. And while cost reductions will have major impacts on this market, they could also lead to new applications, such as replacing stainless and nickel base alloys in corrosion applications and using titanium in vehicles for improved fuel efficiency.

If technology being developed by CSIRO is successful, new operating plants would be possible in Australia, giving the nation the opportunity to add value to its mineral sources.

Although titanium metal is a small market when compared to aluminium, stainless steel and nickel base alloys, a reduction in production costs – through the type of work conducted at CSIRO – would make it the metal of choice and provide the impetus for a dramatically larger industry. With the right technology, Australia could be at the forefront of this new industry.

Stan Seagle
Former vice-president technology at RMI Titanium, he is now a consultant to the US-based International Titanium Association

Last Updated: August 2, 2006
© 2006 CSIRO Australia. For use of CSIRO material contact solve@csiro.au
 
Use of this website and content is subject to our Legal Notice and Privacy Statement.
Please contact us for assistance, or to provide feedback or comments.