Australia Funds Titanium 3D Printing Research with New Process

Australia's Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC), established last year, is now funding its initial projects, including a significant joint research initiative focused on titanium for advanced manufacturing. The AMCRC has announced support for a A$677,000 (~$467,000) project involving the University of Queensland and the Australian company Coogee Titanium.

This project will explore a patented titanium processing method developed by Coogee Titanium, known as the TiRO process. This method is designed to consume less energy compared to traditional titanium processing techniques. The research aims to specifically evaluate the suitability of titanium produced using the TiRO process for additive manufacturing (AM) and other advanced metal production methods like Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP).

The collaboration will compare the performance of parts produced using powder bed fusion (PBF) and HIP techniques with Australian-sourced TiRO titanium against parts made using legacy methods. This research is particularly relevant given the global focus on securing critical mineral supply chains and reducing reliance on dominant processors.

Coogee Titanium's Technical Director, Peter Duxson, stated that the project aims to demonstrate that TiRO powder can meet the performance requirements of advanced manufacturing while offering cost and sustainability advantages. He highlighted the company's investment in domestic production facilities and the potential of this research to unlock commercial opportunities.