Materials

We have developed a precoated titanium sheet and high heat-transfer titanium sheet for use in plate heat exchangers (PHE), one of the main areas in which commercially pure titanium sheet is used. This is the first time anywhere in the world that commercially pure titanium sheets have been successfully developed into commercial products.

(1) Precoated titanium sheet

Our titanium sheet with an acrylic resin precoat provides nearly the same level of formability and productivity as pressing the metal using a lubricating film. As no lubricating film is used, the new sheet eliminates the cost of removing the film and disposing the film.

(2) High heat-transfer titanium plates

Adding minute convex-shaped bumps to the surface of titanium sheet increases heat transfer efficiency by more than 10% if used in an evaporator, or by 5% if used in a condenser or fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger. This increase in efficiency helps save energy and conserve resources by reducing the number of heat transfer plates, fluid flow rate and pump usage, as well as streamlining heat exchangers and cutting costs.

Automobiles need to be made lighter and stronger to improve fuel efficiency and comply with increasingly strict crash safety regulations. Striking a balance between these two qualities requires high tensile strength materials that are strong but easy to form.

At Kobe Steel, we have developed TBF^* 1180MPa high strength steel with improved elongation, which is crucial to formability, and outstanding resistance to delayed fracture. Following development of an innovative spot welding method by Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., this new material will be used in structural members for the body of a new car model due to go on sale in 2013. This is the first time anywhere in the world that 1180MPa high strength steel will be used for major structural components in a car.

* TBF (TRIP-aided bainitic ferrite) high strength steel

TBF high tensile strength steel sheet combines strength with formability. This steel is noted for its fine retained austenite, which improves ductility, and a matrix phase consisting of bainitic ferrite for high strength. It was developed under joint research and development with Professor Koichi Sugimoto of Shinshu University based on a TBF steel developed by Professor Sugimoto.

In an effort to tackle the increasingly serious issue of soil and groundwater contamination and contribute to society in a new way, we have developed the ECOMEL series of environmental iron powders.

As well as ECOMEL 58NJ-1, which breaks down manmade contaminants consisting of volatile organic compounds (VOC), in 2010 we added ECOMEL 53NJ, which adsorbs soil contaminants such as arsenic and other naturally occurring heavy metals. Both of these products have proved effective in real situations.

ECOMEL 53NJ, for heavy metal adsorption, has been shown to adsorb ten times as much arsenic as other commercially available steel powders and is also able to adsorb substances such as selenium, chromium, lead and cadmium. As such, it is ideally suited for combating naturally occurring soil contamination, in cases where the soil is likely to be contaminated with multiple heavy metals.

Using ECOMEL prevents over-reliance on excavation and removal, as specified in the revised Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act, and has the potential to reduce the cost of dealing with contaminated soil.