Present Status of Titanium Market and Technology in Japan

Article outlines the present status of titanium markets and the technology development tendency of titanium and its alloys in Japan. Japan 1998 rolled titanium consumption totaled 6146 tons, of which industrial plants accounted for 50.0% (3064 tons), durable consumption materials (for aircraft, automobiles, ships and offshore structures, architecture and civil engineering works) for 16.9% (974 tons), livelihood goods (sport and leisure, articles of daily use, and medical materials) for 14.3% (877 tons), and others for 20.1% (1231 tons). Some of the new titanium materials such as crevice corrosion resistant alloy, titanium clad steel sheet, cold workable high strength alloy, and biomaterials have found applications. Production processes of titanium are reviewed as well as new cost-effective technologies.