Titanium hulls in the future?

ARLINGTON, Va. -- An Office of Naval Research-funded project is producing a full-size ship hull section made with marine grade titanium using a welding innovation that could help bring titanium into future ship construction. Researchers at the University of New Orleans School of Naval Architecture and Textron Marine and Land Systems are demonstrating the project, and expect to have a complete hull this summer. Friction-stir welds more than 17 feet long joined the titanium alloy plates for the section's deck. Friction-stir welding works well for most aluminum alloys, but titanium is hard to join by the same process because of the high temperatures required. The researchers overcame that problem by using new titanium friction-stir welding methods developed by Florida-based Keystone Synergistic Enterprises Inc., with funding from both ONR and the Air Force. The processes were scaled up and transferred to the National Center for Advanced Manufacturing in New Orleans, which is a partnership between UNO, NASA and Louisiana. (Source: Office of Naval Research, 04/03/12)