Recently, the reporter learned from Panzhihua Iron and Steel Research Institute Co., Ltd. of Panzhihua Group that the "Research and Application of Key Technologies for the Preparation of High-Quality Ultra-Soft Titanium Sponge for Aerospace" project led by Panzhihua Iron and Steel Research Institute Co., Ltd. has won the Science and Technology Award of China's Nonferrous Metal Industry. First prize, first prize in Sichuan Province Science and Technology Progress Award in 2023. This technology has broken the passive situation of relying on imports of key titanium metal materials in China's aviation field, and has effectively promoted its localization process.

Titanium metal is known as "space metal","strategic metal", and "21st century metal". It is a key supporting material for Shenzhou to fly into the sky, Chang'e to the moon, and C919 to fly into the sky. It is also an important basic material for the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and technological innovation and development.

Ultra-soft titanium sponge is a higher-quality titanium sponge with remarkable characteristics such as low impurity content, low Brinell hardness, and high porosity. Due to its high specific strength and good processing plasticity, titanium is an important basic material for manufacturing core components in the aviation field. However, since the core technology for preparing ultra-soft titanium sponge has long been monopolized by foreign countries, China mainly relies on imports.

Faced with this problem, Panzhihua scientific researchers, guided by national strategic needs, spent six years developing a complete set of technologies for large-scale preparation of high-quality ultra-soft titanium sponge and realizing industrial applications, breaking China's long-term dependence on imports and foreign monopoly constraints. The passive situation has achieved high-quality utilization of Panzhihua titanium resources and import substitution of key titanium metal materials used in the aviation field.

Scientific research is only carried out and not completed. "The sustainable development of new quality productivity requires us to master core technologies in our own hands." Sheng Zhuo, the lead researcher of the technical research team, told reporters that they will continue to carry out research on low-energy, high-efficiency titanium sponge production technology, promote the green and high-quality development of China's titanium metallurgy industry, and use scientific and technological innovation to support the innovative development of Panxi's national strategic resources. The construction of pilot areas ensures the independent supply of titanium metal materials for national strategic fields.