Titanium in Aerospace Available to Purchase

PRODUCTION of titanium in the USA during 1974 has been estimated at 15 000 tons, with the aerospace industry taking 75 per cent of the output. This is a considerable increase in the amount used during the preceding twelve months, and indicates that the trend towards titanium products for strength to weight ratio benefits has been accelerated by companies finding that cost reduction can be achieved by extensive use of titanium alloys. It is of interest to note that commercial aviation in the USA has represented the largest single user of this metal, but that this has recently changed with a marked trend towards military applications and in particular, the Grumman F‐14 and McDonnell Douglas F‐15 aircraft.