[Courtesy of KIMS]
Titanium (Ti) is a very durable metal that is very light and corrosion-resistant. Because it's about 40 percent lighter than steel, titanium alloy is used in the production of aerospace components, implants, medical tools, and other components that require lightweight, durable, and strong characteristics.
POSCO, South Korea's major steel group, was the first domestic company to commercialize core titanium materials in 2009, but many firms still favor materials imported from China, Japan, Russia and European countries. Because of its durable characteristics, it is very hard to process titanium.
The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) said in a statement on August 31 that it has signed a cooperation agreement with three domestic metal alloy product manufacturers -- titanium material producer Dong-A Special Metal, artificial joint maker Corentec and World Trend, a metal eyeglasses frame maker -- to jointly develop technologies on titanium alloy products and their applications. Each company's supply network will be interlinked to acquire stable titanium supply sources.
"The key goal of this cooperation agreement is the interlinking of supply networks for titanium ingots, billets and final products," KIMS President Lee Jung-hwan was quoted as saying. He said that the institute and its allies would co-develop and verify the safety of titanium products while establishing an integrated platform optimized for processing the durable metal.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
