[New Technology 2024] The University of Tokyo has announced a technology for directly producing titanium.

Good morning! Today, we're delving into an exciting topic: titanium and a groundbreaking technological advancement from the University of Tokyo. Recently, the university announced the development of a new process that allows for the direct production of titanium. This development has significant implications, as titanium is one of the most abundant elements in the Earth's crust—it ranks ninth in terms of abundance—but is surprisingly underutilized in daily metal products.

Titanium is primarily found in nature in the form of oxides, and converting it into its metallic form involves removing oxygen, a process that is technically demanding and costly. The traditional industrial method for producing titanium is the chlorination process, known as the Kroll process. While it is effective, this method is extremely expensive. For example, producing just one ton of titanium can take over 10 days and cost more than 1 million yen (approximately $9,000 USD). This high cost and lengthy production timeline have made titanium less accessible for widespread use in various industries, even though it has desirable properties like being lightweight and exceptionally strong.

#A New Approach to Titanium Production

Professor Okabe from the University of Tokyo has been working on an alternative method for over two decades. His team recently introduced a new, innovative production process that could revolutionize how titanium is manufactured. This process relies on the use of alkali metals and their compounds to remove oxygen from titanium oxides more effectively. A crucial concept in this process is the formation of "oxyfluoride," a compound where oxygen ions combine with metal ions. This reaction allows for the removal of oxygen without the complex and costly procedures involved in the traditional chlorination method.

The key advantage of this new technology is that it enables the continuous production of titanium with low oxygen content directly from oxide materials. Additionally, the process is highly efficient at removing oxygen even from titanium that is in a highly reactive state at elevated temperatures. Experiments have already demonstrated success, producing high-purity titanium with minimal impurities.

# Rare Earth Elements and Sustainability

One of the notable aspects of this new titanium production method is its use of rare earth elements such as yttrium, lanthanum, and cerium. These elements are relatively abundant and inexpensive, which makes them a practical choice for industrial applications. Furthermore, they are recyclable, meaning that they can be reused in the production process rather than being discarded. This not only reduces costs but also aligns with broader goals of sustainability and environmental responsibility.

In addition to producing titanium from oxide materials, this new technology has another valuable application: it can manufacture low-oxygen titanium from high-oxygen titanium scrap. This opens up new opportunities in the metal recycling industry, as it offers a cost-effective way to recycle titanium without compromising the quality of the final product. The reduced costs in recycling and manufacturing also translate to lower environmental impact, as less energy is consumed, and fewer raw materials are needed.

# Expanding the Use of Titanium

Titanium's unique properties make it ideal for high-end, performance-driven applications. It is lightweight yet incredibly strong, resistant to corrosion, and biocompatible, making it suitable for various industries, including aerospace, medical devices, and consumer electronics. For instance, titanium is already being used in products like the iPhone Pro, premium camping gear, and watches—products where reducing weight without sacrificing strength is essential.

However, the high cost of titanium has limited its use to niche markets. The new production process developed by Professor Okabe and his team is expected to dramatically lower the cost of titanium, which could lead to a broader range of applications. More affordable titanium could potentially replace other metals like aluminum in many industries, offering better performance in terms of strength and weight.

The University of Tokyo is now working closely with Toho Titanium, a major player in the titanium industry, to bring this new technology to market. Together, they aim to commercialize the process and make low-cost titanium available on a larger scale.

# Raising Funds and Fostering Innovation

In order to support this groundbreaking research and ensure that it reaches its full potential, the University of Tokyo has launched the "Titanium Dreams and Aspirations Fund." This initiative is designed to raise funds for continued research and development. Donors who contribute to the fund will receive titanium-made items, such as spoons, as a token of appreciation. The name of the project reflects Professor Okabe's deep passion for the possibilities that titanium holds for the future.

This funding initiative is more than just a financial campaign; it represents the university's commitment to fostering innovation and pushing the boundaries of what is possible with materials science. By involving the public and offering them a stake in the future of titanium, the University of Tokyo hopes to inspire widespread support for this pioneering research.

#Challenges to Mass Production

While the new titanium production technology holds great promise, there are still challenges that need to be addressed. One major hurdle is the limited supply of titanium ore. The majority of the world's titanium ore comes from just a few countries, with South Africa and Ukraine accounting for more than half of global exports. Recently, Ukraine’s export volume has been decreasing, which could impact the availability of titanium in the future.

Another challenge is the inherent difficulty of processing titanium. Even if the new production method significantly lowers the cost of extracting titanium from its oxide form, the costs associated with processing titanium into usable products will remain high. Titanium is a tough metal that requires specialized equipment and techniques to shape and mold, which adds to the final cost of products made from the material.

As a result, even with lower production costs, it may be unrealistic to expect that titanium products will become as affordable as aluminum alternatives anytime soon. Nevertheless, for industries where performance is a priority over cost, the new technology could make titanium a much more attractive option.

# Conclusion

In summary, the University of Tokyo's new titanium deoxygenation technology represents a major step forward in materials science. By utilizing the reaction to create oxyfluoride, this well-established process offers a more efficient and cost-effective way to produce high-purity titanium. Although challenges remain—such as securing enough titanium ore and addressing the high costs of processing—the potential for this technology to revolutionize the titanium industry is undeniable.

There is great hope that this technology will be commercialized in the near future, paving the way for titanium to become more widely used in a variety of applications. Thank you for following this story to the end. We encourage you to stay tuned for more updates on new energy, battery technology, and electric vehicles. Please consider subscribing, liking, and leaving a comment to support our channel.