Aperam Recycling, through its subsidiary ELG Utica Alloys, has entered a partnership with IperionX to create a circular titanium supply chain solution that will upcycle titanium scrap.  

US-based Iperion X is developing its manufacturing facilities in Virginia and is set to start its first titanium powder production in the second half of 2024. IperionX plans to use its patented titanium technologies to upcycle up to 12t of titanium scrap from the consumer electronics sector. The company aims to manufacture a variety of high-performance titanium products, including titanium near-net shapes for specific parts, as well as plate, rod, and wire products. ELG Utica Alloys specialises in sourcing and processing titanium metal, super alloys and stainless steel, and processes over 1Mt of metal annually. This partnership will leverage scrap titanium feedstocks to create a 100% recycled U.S. titanium supply chain, reducing carbon emissions. 

Currently, titanium manufacturers face the challenge of high volumes of titanium scrap metal generation, such as cuttings and turnings, which are often downcycled to the ferrotitanium market. In 2023, the titanium market generated over 50kt of scrap metal, this figure is projected to double by 2033, driven by the increasing aerospace application.  

Since the closure of its last titanium sponge plant, the USA has relied on recycling and sponge imports, mostly from Japan and Saudi Arabia, to meet its domestic titanium needs. This highlights the importance of recycling as a titanium source. In addition, a new bill, the Securing America’s Titanium Manufacturing Act of 2024, has been proposed, to temporarily suspend duties on titanium sponge imports to help reduce costs for American titanium producers. The partnership between IperionX and Aperam combined with the proposed bill will see the return of domestic titanium production to the USA and support domestic titanium demand. This will be a crucial step towards securing critical supply chains for the aerospace industry which faces increasing pressure to move away from Russian-produced titanium which still dominates the aerospace industry.