Two methods for processing titanium alloys suitable for the automotive sector have been independently developed by Nippon Steel Corp and Kobe Steel Ltd of Japan.

Although titanium is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, its use is limited to aircraft engines due to difficulties in forming

Nippon Steel has developed a titanium alloy plate by combining the element with 0.5-1.0% bronze and niobium, then improving certain of its processing methods such as rolling and hardening. The plate is able to withstand extreme heat, but it can also be processed at normal temperatures, the company says.

Nippon Steel is already testing the material with automobile makers, and it could be adopted for use in motorcycle exhaust valves as early as 2007. The product is likely to eventually be used in automobiles.

Meanwhile, Kobe Steel has developed a high-tensile titanium wire rod. The rods have already been used by Osaka Seiko Ltd, which specializes in wire rods, and Sakamura Machine Co Ltd, a screw manufacturer, to jointly mass-produce bolts for automobiles.

On top of developing the alloy, alterations have been made to dies to reduce friction and to enable continuous production. According to Kobe Steel, this has halved output costs. The bolts can be used in engine and drive train parts. A single automobile has around 70-80 kg of bolts, but using titanium products would cut this down by about 40-50 kg.

The use of titanium in automobiles has not become widespread because of its price, which is 50-100 times that of steel products. To dismantle the price barrier, Nippon Steel and Kobe Steel are working together to develop cheap manufacturing technologies for the element. Automotive use will result in increases in volume production, which in turn will likely help lower prices further, the companies say.

For further information, contact: Nippon Steel Corp, 2-6-3 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; tel: +81-3-3242-4111; Internet: ww.nsc.co.jp; or contact: Kobe Steel Ltd, 9-12 Kita-Shinagawa 5-chome, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8688, Japan; tel: +81-3-5739-6000; fax: +81-3-5739-6903; Internet: www.kobelco.co.jp