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About Titanium
Tiomin owns 100% of the Kwale Project in Kenya with 116.9 million tonnes (MT) of proven and probable reserves (38.9 MT proven @ 7.1% Total Heavy Minerals (THM), and 78.0 MT probable @ 4.16% THM). The Project is currently under Force Majeure pending the Government of Kenya completing various steps required to obtain a new project financing package. Most of Tiomin's titanium mineral products will be used in the production of titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment, a pure white, highly refractive and ultra-violet absorbing substance. A significant factor underlying the consistent growth in the over $9 billion pigment industry is that there is no effective replacement for titanium dioxide. It cannot be recycled and requires re-application rather than removal. TiO2's many uses in low and high technology applications will secure its place in the future economy.
Applications
The consumption of titanium minerals is dominated by their use in the production of titanium dioxide pigment which consumes more than 94% of the titanium mineral production. TiO2's pigment is the preferred opacifying additive in paints, where it is used not only to make white paints, but also to provide the hiding power necessary in paints of all colours. Its use in paints accounts for approx. 57% of total TiO2 consumption and has progressively replaced toxic lead-based pigments. It is also used as a whitener and opacifier in the production of high quality papers. The highest growth application for TiO2 pigment is its use as an opacifying agent for plastics.
In addition to which, this lifestyle product is inert to most chemical reagents, self-cleaning and non-toxic, making it ideal for use in the cosmetics, sunscreen and skin care industries. It is even being applied to cutting-edge cancer fighting treatments. Other important but smaller uses are in the manufacture of titanium metal and fluxes for welding electrodes. Minor uses include the production of titanium-based chemicals, hard metals, vitreous enamels, catalysts and a variety of glass and electroceramic products.
Titanium Market
Titanium dioxide pigment TiO2, a pure white, highly refractive and ultra-violet absorbing substance, is used as a whitener and brightener in paint, plastics, paper and inks.
Demand for this pigment has grown at an average of 3.0% per year since 1970 and, due to the lack of any effective replacement product, inability to recycle and to the large increase in the production of plastic products, this growth rate is forecast to continue for the foreseeable future. (TiO2)'s many uses in low and high technology applications will secure its place in the future economy.
The global pigment production in 2006 was estimated at 4.8 MT, worth approximately US$9 billion. Historically, demand has developed strongly in the most economically developed countries of the world. However, new areas, such as China and India, are becoming important consumers as they become more prosperous. Growth rates of 6-9% per annum have been achieved in recent years, in these developing areas, compared to 2-3% in N. America and Europe.
Titanium Metals
1. Long used in aircraft construction, the primary application, finding
particular use in jet engines and fasteners.
2. In Modern medical and dental application due to its superior osteo-
integrative properties e.g. hip/knee replacements, pacemakers, and
surgical instruments.
3. As the preferred material for high performance golf club heads, it
propels a large number of golf-balls on courses throughout the world.
4. In computers where its non-magnetic and heat-resistant properties
permit closer read-write head tolerance and increased disk capacity.
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