The Application of Titanium as a Low Cost Structural and Armor Material for Off-Board Surface Vessels (OBVs)

Titanium is a near ideal material for operating in harsh marine environments, but has not been widely utilized due to cost. A breakthrough has been demonstrated for producing titanium structural net shapes and composite armor at a cost of only a few dollars per pound above the cost of primary titanium sponge. Such processing can be utilized to produce cost effective net shape titanium components, the entire off board surface vessel (OBVs) in titanium, as well as a composite titanium armor for any OBV. The composite titanium armor can be integrated in one piece into titanium OBV components. Cost, weight and performance trade off analysis will be performed for application of the low cost titanium/titanium armor to OBVs and a demonstration structural and/or armor prototype(s) will be fabricated and delivered in Phase I.BENEFITS: Low cost titanium has applications throughout off shore oil exploration, commercial surface vessels, water desalinization throughout defense including armor and all marine applications.