Titanium Sponge Extraction Technology
A Historic Moment for DMRL
6 September 2011 became a historic moment for DMRL as well as for the country as the 1st batch of 3000 kg titanium sponge was produced at the Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML), Kollam, using DMRL technology. The entire process was carried out under the guidance and close monitoring of Scientists and Engineers of DMRL. Relentless efforts of the Scientists and Engineers from DMRL, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and KMML contributed to the success of the project and thereby making our dream of establishing nation’s 1st Titanium Sponge Plant, a reality.
India has rich reserves of titanium ore in the beach sands along the coasts of Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML), Kollam, produces titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) as an intermediate product during the production of pigment grade titanium dioxide. A state-of-the-art combined process technology has been developed at DMRL for the production of premium quality titanium sponge from indigenous raw material (TiCl4), at an industrial scale of 3 tons per batch. Establishment of technologies for the production of titanium sponge and magnesium reclamation by fused salt electrolysis at DMRL is a vital breakthrough for the exploitation of vast titanium resources in the country. This process, being modular, enables easy augmentation of the installed capacity in a commercial plant. The sponge product satisfies recommended international standards followed for the production of high quality titanium alloy aeronautical products.
Based on the DMRL technology, the country’s first commercial titanium sponge plant with a capacity of 500 tons per year was established at KMML, with funding from ISRO. DMRL has been actively associated with KMML and their engineering consultant M/s KITCO, Kochi, in the detailed engineering of the project as well as establishment and commissioning of the plant. Through this effort, DMRL has bridged a major gap in the production cycle (ore to finished product) of high quality titanium components. India is now 7th nation in the world that has capability to produce aeronautical grade titanium sponge on industrial scale. The batch size was increased to 3.5 tons, and about 50 batches have been completed successfully so far.
