Refractory metals producer Elmet Technologies and powder manufacturer Taniobis intend to leverage each other's capabilities to strengthen North American supply lines of niobium- and tantalum-based alloys crucial for aerospace and defense applications.
The two companies entered into a long-term agreement in which they will initially focus on output and marketing of C-103 and FS-85 alloys, primarily in powder form, they announced on Tuesday. The deal leaves open the potential for Elmet and Taniobis to expand into alloys under the latter's AMtrinsic product line.
Neither financial nor production details were disclosed.
The partnership allows US-based Elmet to expand its product offerings, which have historically centered around molybdenum and tungsten. The company has produced C-103 before but in a limited capacity — essentially on an as-needed basis.
Germany-based Taniobis, conversely, gets access to Elmet's distribution network in North America, along with the company's expertise and manufacturing capabilities, which include an extrusion press at its facility in Coldwater, Michigan.
Aerospace and defense industries have prized C-103 for its ability to maintain strength at high temperatures, with the most common uses including in hypersonic missiles, rocket nozzles and jet engine afterburners. It contains on average 89pc niobium, 10pc hafnium and 1pc titanium.
FS-85 can be used as an alternative to C-103 in several applications, having similar mechanical properties but coming at a discount because it does not contain hafnium. Elmet touts that the alloy has a higher ultimate tensile strength (UTS) than C-103.
Still, widespread adoption of FS-85 — comprised of 61pc niobium, 28pc tantalum, 10pc tungsten and 1pc zirconium on average — faces challenges given its higher weight compared to C-103 and consumers' reluctance to move away from a proven product.
