better moustrap, page-5

Titanium metal is produced using the Kroll process, which is a particularly expensive route to producing the metal from rutile or ilmenite.... hence the high cost of titanium.

A developing process ("FFC Cambridge" process) is able to produce titanium metal for a much lower cost via a different route using calcium metal dissolved in molten calcium chloride to reduce the metal directly from TiO2. This has been licensed by University of Cambridge to Metalysis.

In the last few years, BHP (remember them?) have also been developing titanium metal production technology known as the Polar process, also reducing TiO2 using calcium metal dissolved in molten calcium chloride).
http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/Presentations/BHPBillitonPresentationITAScottsdaleSept05.pdf

These 2 have now got into bed with the formation of a JV called "Metalysis Titanium". BHP has minority interest in the JV.

October 2006
Metalysis acquires the Polar process for Titanium Products from BHP Billiton.

Metalysis and BHP Billiton form joint venture company, Metalysis Titanium Inc

Metalysis announces the acquisition of BHP Billiton’s (the world’s largest resources company) Polar process. The agreement will see BHP Billiton receive a minority stake in a new joint venture company provisionally to be called “Metalysis Titanium Inc”.

Metalysis Titanium Inc will combine the expertise and intellectual property of both the FFC Cambridge and Polar processes and will develop strategic industrial alliances, joint ventures and license deals to rapidly achieve market penetration and production of titanium and bulk titanium alloy products.

Dr Graham Cooley, Metalysis’ chief executive said, “Combining the strengths of both Polar and FFC Cambridge technologies through the formation of MTi is expected to generate unprecedented progress in a range of high volume titanium products. This is indeed an exciting event for the titanium industry and the industries it serves”.


It is interesting that BHP not only is planning to blow the ilmenite market out of the water with Corridor Sands, but also has interests in cutting edge technology to produce the metal relatively cheaply from TiO2.

APG fits in nice and snug between the two!!