A Look at the Titanium Development Association Crystal L. Revak
Editor's Note: The Guild Report is a new department designed to highlight the activities and status of a particular field by profiling its trade or professional associations.
Promoting the use of titanium through education and user awareness has been the mission of the Titanium Development Association (TDA) since its inception at the Offshore Technology Conference in May 1983. The success of this exhibit, sponsored by twenty companies, reinforced the idea that an association representing all segments of the titanium industry could contribute to the expansion of titanium applications worldwide. TDA was officially chartered in January 1984 and since that time has grown to its current international membership of 70 companies and 43 individuals representing producers, users, consultants and promoters of the metal. Through its board of directors and specialized committees, TDA has made substantial inroads in educating design engineers and specifiers while collecting and distributing information and statistics regarding titanium specifications, developments and production. Its most recent strategic plan focuses on applications-oriented issues for the next five years. Its specific goals include increasing public awareness of titanium, educating industries about uses of titanium, recruiting new members, maintaining a comprehensive statistics program, distributing statistics, cooperating with existing technical and professional societies, improving the understanding of the unique properties of titanium, and establishing an education program through universities and the research sector. Within this framework, each committee has set goals to address the industry's concerns. The Marine Application Committee has targeted titanium uses in seawater environments. Through paper presentations and trade show exhibition at conferences, such as the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers or the American Society of Naval Engineers, and contact with key government officials, TDA can identify and analyze the potential uses for titanium's corrosion
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resistant properties and promote its application in existing and new naval and marine applications. Educational programs for naval engineers and architects regarding the use of titanium for shipbuilding, piping, heat exchangers and valves have been held at Bath Iron Works and Newport News Shipyards. Efforts are ongoing to provide titanium samples and products for Naval Sea Systems Command test projects. The TDA Technical Committee focuses on current and developing specifications for titanium alloys; developing educational material such as trade show brochures and articles for trade journals; and compiling resource material. It serves as a review board for information being revised or developed by other metals organizations. The Technical Committee is developing technical data sheets for specific titanium applications, a comparative cost metals chart and a life-cycle cost chart. This information will be distributed to anyone requesting the information at trade shows and will be included in TDA publications as appropriate. The committee recently completed the testing and collection of data for the ASME Boiler and Pressure CodeCaseforGrade9 (Ti-3AI-2.5V). It is currently working with ASM International on the revision of ASM's "Titanium and Its Alloys" course. The Statistics Committee prepares an annual compilation of data on the titanium industry. Included is a ten-year history of ingot and mill product shipments, u.s. imports and exports, and sample world trade data. Recently, cooperation with the U.s. Department of Commerce and the Bureau of Mines resulted in more detailed foreign trade statistics. Each year, the committee attempts to add new information that better defines the industry and educates titanium users. The Promotion, Trade Show and Membership Committees also focus on promoting the titanium industry. Through exhibitions, conferences and seminars, TDA and industry personnel distribute publications and answer questions about titanium and its applications.
TDA sponsors the International Conference on Titanium Products and Applications every four years. This conference addresses new developments in the following areas: aerospace, environmental behavior, forming, industrial, joining, medical applications, powder metallurgy, raw material (e.g., melting, casting and recycling) and superplastic forming. TDA also supports and participates in the World Titanium Congress. TDA publications are available to anyone interested in titanium and the industry. Titanium, the Choice ... explains titanium's unique characteristics and the various existing and developing applications of the metal. Titanium: A Statistical Review highlights important data on titanium production and consumption. The Buyers Guide is a comprehensive directory listing producers and suppliers of titanium products. Tidbits is a monthly membership newsletter which contains information on association activities and worldwide industry developments. Also available are proceedings from the international conferences and an instructional video entitled How to Weld Titanium, which explains and demonstrates titanium welding techniques for fabrication facilities and in the field. TDA maintains a hotline-(513) 223-TiDAto answer specific inquiries about the metal and its users. During 1990, several major activities are planned. A meeting will be held with the Japan Titanium Society to explore areas of current and potential interest. TDA will also sponsor exhibits at meetings of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers and the American Society of Naval Engineers. The International Conference on Titanium Products and Applications will be held September 30-October 3, in Orlando, Florida. Crystal L. Revak is director of marketing services with the RMI Company in Niles, Ohio. She is also chair of the TDA Statistics Committee. If you want more information on this subject, please circle reader service card number 61.
JOM • March 1990
