Metalysis, U.K., announces that it has raised $17 million from its Generation 4 industrial-scale expansion project for commercial production of titanium (and other metal) powders by its low-cost FFC Cambridge solid-state electrolysis process. Proceeds will fund state-of-the-art post-processing facilities, feedstock, and working capital to support the rollout of Gen 4.
Fundraising participants comprise existing shareholders Woodford Investment Management, Draper Esprit PLC, ETF Partners, and Interogo Treasury. The company also welcomes Hercules Capital Inc., California, which has pledged more than $7 billion to high-growth, innovative venture capital-backed companies in life sciences and renewable technology industries since its inception.
Metalysis also reports that it will provide titanium for the FAST-forge venture, in which its titanium powder will be processed into aerospace-grade titanium alloys. FAST-forge is a “new process for the production of aerospace grade titanium alloys,” according to academic partner the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield.
The FAST-forge system has three steps. First, titanium powder is produced from rutile sand, an inexpensive natural source of titanium oxide that is readily available. Second, Field-Assisted Sintering Technology (FAST) is used to rapidly heat the powder. An electric current is applied to the sintered parts, causing them to undergo densification at lower temperatures than sintering in a furnace or kiln. Finally, densified parts are forged to produce the shape and structure of a specific component.
This process is not only more efficient than other methods, but also the three-step technique provides enhanced flexibility in the fabrication of titanium components. The FAST-forge research could have significant impact on the aerospace industry, as the possibility of lightweight yet stronger materials and the promise of cost savings have great appeal. The project could reduce the cost of forging titanium for aerospace components to less than a third of the current cost. FAST-forge also opens up possibilities for titanium in areas where it is currently priced out.
Metalysis also has announced that its next phase of technological expansion, Generation 5 (Gen 5) will provide for annual production of hundreds and multiple thousands of tons. Consisting of multiple modular Gen 4 units, Gen 5 can be designed to retrofit into an existing industrial site, for example steelworks infrastructure, offering highly profitable, niche multi-metal alloy powder production capability. It is the scale at which Metalysis could offer distributed manufacturing options, in line with the Factory-of-the-Future vision
