Circular solid-state processing of Ti swarf—a low-cost, sustainable, and European source of Ti
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan - Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan Inst f materialvetenskap |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 962 925 |
| Project duration | October 2024 - April 2025 |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Venture | Impact Innovation Net Zero industry - Program-specific efforts |
| Call | Impact Innovation: Increased resource efficiency and resilience, stage 1 |
Purpose and goal
Titanium—a critical EU raw material—is required for many products in the energy sector but its use is often cost-prohibitive. New low-cost and European sources of Ti are needed for broad adaption. The goal of the project is to establish a new route towards low-cost, high-performance Ti powders for various powder metallurgy routes, primarily cold spray coating and repair, based on waste feedstock.
Expected effects and result
We will evaluate an industrially viable process that converts Ti waste into low-cost powders by solid-state processing and their consolidation by cold-spray coating and additive manufacturing into Ti parts. Based on this pre-study, we will identify opportunities and challenges as well as necessary methods and expertise for a full-scale project that will realize and proof the technical and economical feasibility of this significant secondary source of Ti.
Planned approach and implementation
In this pre-study, we will confirm the feasibility of powder production from Ti waste, test coating simulation and rapid powder optimization by single- and many-particle impact deposition, and theoretically plan and outline industry-scale cold-spray deposition and performance testing of the coatings.