Russia’s State Research and Design Institute of Rare Metal Industry (Giredmet) has signed a contract with Alt Metals to establish a pilot production facility for titanium sponge, the primary feedstock for making titanium.
Titanium, which is valued for its strength, lightness and corrosion resistance, is used to make alloys and components for industries such as Defence, aerospace, medical devices, among others.
The pact between Giredmet and Alt Metals was signed at the Innoprom India exhibition in New Delhi last week. It aims to develop cooperation between Russian and Indian specialists in the field of deep processing of mineral raw materials and provides for the supply of laboratory equipment for the production of titanium sponge.
“This relates to developing the initial design data for industrial titanium sponge production with a capacity of 1,000 tonnes per year. During the first stage, we will conduct a study of the customer’s raw materials, conduct laboratory testing, manufacture and supply a set of laboratory equipment, and provide installation supervision, commissioning, and personnel training. We are interested in scaling the technology to industrial scale and subsequently integrating it into Indian industry,” said Andrey Goliney, Director of the Chemical Engineering Division at Rosatom Nauka JSC (the managing organisation of Giredmet JSC).
Giredmet is part of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation of Russia–a nuclear energy solutions behemoth. It covers the full cycle–from developing enrichment methods for ores containing rare and rare-earth metals to producing high-purity substances, single crystals, and finished products for the electronics, nuclear, aviation, and space industries.
Russia is consistently developing international trade and economic relations, focusing on cooperation with friendly countries. The domestic economy is increasing its export potential, supplying goods, services, and raw materials worldwide. Rosatom and its enterprises are actively involved in this work.
Giredmet is already working with TEXMiN Foundation (Technology Translation Research Park) on joint R&D initiatives to develop NdFeB rare-earth permanent magnet technologies. TEXMiN is a section-8 company created under a programme by the Department of Science and Technology at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
In May this year, TEXMiN and Giredmet signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in rare earth permanent magnet technologies, critical minerals, and advanced metallurgical research.
Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) rare earth permanent magnets are key intermediate components of permanent magnet synchronous (direct drive) generators in wind turbines (especially for offshore turbines) and electric synchronous traction motors for propulsion systems in battery and hybrid electric vehicles (EVs).