New Materials

Production of titanium is rapidly increasing, and in the United States it is estimated that the production of sponge titanium in 1955, was about 8,000 tons, a 50 per cent increase over the total for 1954. Mill output is estimated at 1,900 tons, of which about 54 per cent was in the form of sheet and strip and 46 per cent in the form of bars, billets and extrusions. Imperial Chemical Industries in Great Britain was producing 1,500 tons a year by the end of 1955, and Japan has recently entered into a contract to supply the USA with 2,000 tons of sponge within the next two years. A report at the end of 1955 said that Russia was using titanium in considerable quantities in military aircraft.