Titanium Sponge Plant Chavara of
Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML) makes india the 7th country in the world to have commercial technology to make Titanium Sponge for defense applications. It was commisioned in 2011 with an annual capacity of 500 MT
.The Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL under DRDO) developed the process of sponge production after twenty years of continuous R&D and established an experimental facility at Hyderabad.
The project is fully funded by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC under ISRO) and the sponge produced will be used for their aerospace applications.
Currently plans are afoot for the proposed 10000 TPY Titanium Sponge Plant near KMML. Now KMML has signed a memorandum of understanding with Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) for a Rs 5,000-crore joint venture for manufacturing titanium sponge.
Future plans consist of Mg recovery from MgCl2 (by product) intended to setup an experimental facility at KMML, funded by VSSC with technical backup from DMRL .
Titanium sponge is widely produced employing the Kroll process of high-temperature reduction of titanium tetrachloride by magnesium.
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In Dec 2016 Indian Navy procured 4.5 metric tonnes apart from its usual customer ISRO this is the first time that indigenously produced titanium sponge for strategic applications was being purchased by a defence wing from the KMML.