Current Research

Development and Engineering Center for Commercial Automotive Applications for Titanium

Principal investigators:

Thomas R. Kurfess and Laine Mears

Brief abstract:

Demand for titanium has historically exceeded global industrial capacity to produce, resulting in long lead times for materials. This has constrained development of other promising applications for titanium, such as force protection for soldiers in combat. Expanding the commercial applications of titanium may result in greater industry investment in capacity, shortening lead times and leading to innovations in other titanium applications. The commercial automotive sector is a good candidate for additional titanium investment as lighter-weight materials may improve vehicle performance and corrosion resistance. Research will be completed in the areas of

1. titanium applications in the commercial automotive industry;
2. structural integrity study of vehicle components replaced by titanium; and
3. factors affecting the machinability of titanium.

Impact:

Beneficiaries are OEM and military ground vehicle development teams that want to reduce energy use through structural component material replacement by titanium.