Titanium alloys are poised for rapid adoption in products demanding extreme lightweight properties and structural integrity—such as foldable phones, AR/VR headsets, and drones—as 3D printing techniques and powder production technologies mature. The sustained penetration of titanium alloys, coupled with advancements in powder metallurgy and 3D printing processes, is expected to continuously drive the expansion of their applications. Powder metallurgy can also be utilized to produce high-end nuclear fusion materials, with domestic companies actively overcoming critical technological bottlenecks. Related target: TIANGONG INT'L (00826).
Apple's inaugural foldable product, anticipated for release in 2026, is set to further boost demand for titanium alloys. Owing to their high strength, superior corrosion resistance, and excellent surface texture, the usage of titanium and its alloys in foldable screens is expected to increase significantly. Primary applications include: (1) Mid-frame: Titanium alloy mid-frames offer significantly better anti-bending capability than aluminum alloys while achieving weight reduction, thereby providing superior protection for screens and internal components. (2) Screen backing plate: This component supports the screen to ensure display quality and touch experience, while also guiding the screen to bend with a specific curvature during folding and unfolding to minimize creasing. Using pure titanium backing plates can substantially reduce device weight, balancing heft, performance, and manufacturing costs. (3) Others: Given titanium alloy's enhanced toughness and corrosion resistance, it holds future potential for use in components like hinge covers for foldable screens.
Concurrently, 3D printed titanium alloys offer exceptional design freedom, enabling the production of complex hollow or integrated structures unachievable via CNC machining. This technology is gradually being applied in aerospace and medical fields and is now penetrating the high-end consumer electronics sector. As 3D printing processes and powder technology continue to mature, titanium alloy is expected to see rapid adoption in products like foldable devices, AR/VR headsets, and drones, where extreme demands for lightweighting and structural strength are paramount.
From the midstream segment of the titanium alloy industry chain, domestic company TIANGONG INT'L has deep expertise in high-end titanium alloy wires. It currently supplies several leading international consumer electronics firms and is continuously expanding its production capacity, positioning it to benefit from volume demand driven by major clients' foldable devices. Powder metallurgy can also be employed to produce high-end materials for nuclear fusion. As global demand for sustainable energy grows, the commercialization of nuclear fusion continues to advance. The blanket of a fusion reactor must withstand extreme combined environments including high-energy neutron irradiation, elevated temperatures, intense heat fluxes, and strong magnetic fields, imposing exceptionally high requirements on material performance. Domestic companies, exemplified by TIANGONG INT'L, are persistently tackling these critical bottlenecks. They are utilizing powder metallurgy to produce fusion materials, such as advanced reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steels and high-boron steel (304B7) for nuclear power, with core applications including shield blankets and vacuum vessel interlayers. These firms are well-positioned to benefit from a potential surge in nuclear fusion demand.
Risk warnings include uncertainties stemming from Sino-US trade frictions and sharp fluctuations in raw material prices.
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