Development of technologies for large scale production of titanium and magnesium metals at the defence metallurgical research laboratory, Hyderabad

Abstract

Titanium has been finding increasing usage as a structural metal in aerospace and many non-aerospace sectors mainly due to its light weight, high strength and outstanding corrosion resistance properties. India is very fortunate to possess the world’s largest and richest mineral deposit for this metal. Early studies on the metal extraction during mid ’60s at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay and pilot plant studies at the Nuclear Fuel Complex, Hyderabad resulted in the establishment of a ‘Technology Development Centre’ at Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), Hyderabad. DMRL has already demonstrated titanium sponge production feasibility in 2,000 kg batches by the conventional Krcll process and is presently engaged in the development of the more energy saving ‘combined process technology’ in 4,000 kg batches. Fused salt electrolysis is widely employed to produce magnesium metal in integrated titanium plants so as to regenerate magnesium from the by-product magnesium chloride. DMRL has developed magnesium electrolysis technology in a 30 kA monopolar, modular type cell and is now developing the multipolar cell technology in 7kA, 22·2 V, two-module cell equipped with five bipoles in each module. This paper traces the developmental efforts on titanium metal extraction in India and describes the current efforts underway at DMRL for developing the latest energy efficient and cost effective technologies for the large scale production of both titanium and magnesium metals.