Nippon Mining & Metals to Increase Ti-Cu Alloy Output

Nippon Mining & Metals plans to expand production of titanium-copper alloy, NKT322 (named GIGALLOY). NKT322 has been widely adopted for cellular phones, especially for smart phones, during April-September 2009 thanks to its high strength and bending workability. The firm aims to increase titanium-copper alloy production from current 100 tonnes per month to 150-200 tonnes per month at the end of March 2013.

GIGALLOY is copper alloy containing 3.2% titanium and 0.2% iron, which represents 1,000MPa level intensity. Nippon Mining & Metals appealed the alloy mainly for connector pins inside cell phones where high strength and bending workability are requsetsted.

The firm’s current output capacity of titanium-copper alloy is about 150 tonnes per month. The firm examines capacity expansion of melting and casting processes if output volume steadily increases.