The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded $5.7 million to a two-company consortium to develop an inexpensive and energy-efficient new process for making titanium metal powder. Under heat and pressure, the powder can be used to create strong, lightweight items ranging from armor plating to components for the aerospace, transportation and chemical processing industries.

The consortium includes DuPont, which will supply the titanium dioxide as raw material and actively participate in the design and development of a significantly sized system. The other partner, Tucson-based MER Corporation, will provide the core technology for converting titanium dioxide to titanium metal. MER also will conduct experimental work and build and operate the scaled up system.  The consortium will look to DuPont and its customers to fabricate aerospace and other parts that demonstrate the inherent quality of the material produced.

Assuming the two-year project succeeds, DuPont will develop systems to integrate the overall process, paving the way for large-scale commercialization.

“DuPont is the world’s largest producer of titanium dioxide pigment, and we see tremendous opportunities to develop new titanium-related technologies to help us expand beyond our historical core business,” said Richard C. Olson, vice president and general manager – DuPont Titanium Technologies. “But beyond the business significance, it’s gratifying to know that projects like this can contribute to our nation’s security and improve energy performance.”

The process is expected to consume less than half of the energy to convert titanium ore to titanium metal compared to the current 50-year-old process.  In addition, the new process makes titanium metal powder that can be directly formed into desired shapes. It allows manufacturers to make parts faster, with less machining and significantly less scrap.

“DARPA’s Titanium Initiative is developing a truly revolutionary approach to ensuring the supply of what is quickly becoming a strategic material for our country,” said DARPA Program Manager Leo Christodoulou.  “We have made great progress to date and look forward to continued success.”
DARPA manages and directs selected basic and applied research and development projects for the U.S. Department of Defense. The agency pursues research and technology projects where risk and payoff are both very high and where success may provide dramatic advances for traditional military roles and missions.

Materials and Electrochemical Research (MER) Corporation is a diversified materials and process development company.  MER performs contract R & D for the U.S. government and industrial clients, and manufactures niche and advanced engineering materials.  Technologies include nanomaterials, composites of carbon, metals, ceramics and polymers, rapid manufacturing in metals and cermets, coatings for wear, oxidation, corrosion and specialty performance, and electrochemical processes including: fuel cells, lithium ion batteries and metal extraction.

DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

Forward-Looking Statements:  This news release contains forward-looking statements based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections.  All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the company’s strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements.  Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words like “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “intends,” “projects,” “indicates,” and similar expressions.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in DuPont’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly its latest annual report on Form 10-K, as well as others, could cause results to differ materially from those stated.  These factors include, but are not limited to changes in the laws, regulations, policies and economic conditions of countries in which the company does business; competitive pressures; successful integration of structural changes, including acquisitions, divestitures and alliances; research and development of new products, including regulatory approval and market acceptance, and seasonality of sales of agricultural products.

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9/12/06

Contact: 
Rick Straitman
302-999-5226
richard.a.straitman@usa.dupont.com