Consumables
DuPont Opens Facility for Growing Titanium Metals Industry
Thursday 13. November 2008 - A new titanium tetrachloride purification unit has begun operations at the New Johnsonville, Tenn., titanium dioxide site. Most of the production of the high-purity chemical will be used in the growing titanium metal manufacturing industry.
Titanium metal is increasingly used in everything from airplanes to sporting goods and chemical processing equipment.
Titanium tetrachloride is an intermediate chemical produced during the early steps of the chloride process for manufacturing titanium dioxide. In addition to its use in titanium metal manufacturing, it is essential to the production of certain plastics. It also has specialized applications in pearlescent pigments used in products ranging from cars and cosmetics to bicycle helmets. Plans for the USD 30 million facility were announced in October 2006.
“The start-up of this unit is a significant milestone for DuPont to help satisfy the growing global demand for high-purity titanium tetrachloride in innovative applications,” said Rick Olson, vice president and general manager, DuPont Titanium Technologies.
DuPont is the world’s largest manufacturer of titanium dioxide, a white pigment widely used in the coatings, plastics and paper industries. DuPont Titanium Technologies serves customers globally in the coatings, paper and plastics industries.