Status of the titanium production,research, and applications in the CIS

We present a survey of the research and development of titanium alloys, mill products, processes, and applications in the CIS between the tenth and eleventh Titanium World Conferences. Driven by an increased world-market demand, the titanium industry of the CIS has become an important contributor to the global expansion of titanium in volume and applications. Unfortunately, the domestic shipments of titanium and, especially of mill products, remain low because of the inadequate consumption of titanium by domestic end-users, such as aerospace, chemical, and marine (shipbuilding) industries. Although the titanium-research activity remains not as extensive as earlier, it is characterized by a certain recovery motivated by both performance-driven and cost-driven applications. In numerous cases, the studies are performed through broad international cooperation. Due to its application-oriented nature, these trends of activities are moving from academic institutions to industrial research groups. Hence, the fundamental studies of the complex nature of titanium-based materials are gradually shifted to the applied research aimed at the development and scaling up of advanced alloys, processes, and new applications. The “Titan” Interstate Association realizes an important mission by keeping the titanium industry and science in the CIS united, coherent, and cooperative despite the disintegrative political and economic trends in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Translated from Fizyko-Khimichna Mekhanika Materialiv, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 7–20, May–June, 2008.