The Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited Chavara, Kollam, Kerala

Non-conducting fraction is transferred to Zircon plant for producing zircon. Non-magnetic fraction is transferred to Rutile recovery plant for the separation of Rutile. Finished product of dry mill is Ilmenite. Zircon concentrate from air tables are fed through series of high tension electrostatic magnetic separators for the production of zircon.

The Utility Section of our Manufacturing Facility comprises: Boiler Plant (24 Ts saturated steam and 9 Ts superheated steam per hour).We have two main Boilers and one Packaged Boiler. Air Compressor Station (5 nos.) Water Treatment & DM Plant

KMML has taken a big leap into aerospace industry and defence application with the commissioning of 500TPY Titanium Sponge Plant. The idea of setting up a Titanium Sponge Plant took shape in this context so that the country’s strategic programs in Defence and Aerospace are not affected for want of Titanium sponge. Former President of India His Excellency Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam highlighted the importance of setting up of Titanium Sponge Plant at Chavara during his speech at Kerala Legislative Assembly. The Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL under DRDO) developed the process of sponge production after twenty years of continuous R&D and established an experimental facility at Hyderabad. By the Commissioning of KMML TSP India has become the seventh country in the world to have the technology to make Titanium Sponge. The project is fully funded by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC under ISRO) and the sponge produced will be used for their aerospace applications.

Rutile is a mineral composed primarily of titanium dioxide, TiO2. Rutile is the most common natural form of TiO2. Rutile has among the highest refractive indices of any known mineral and also exhibits high dispersion. Natural rutile may contain up to 10% iron and significant amounts of niobium and tantalum. Finely powdered rutile is a brilliant white pigment and is used in paints, plastics, papers, foods, and other applications that call for a bright white color. Titanium dioxide pigment is the single greatest use of titanium worldwide. Nanoscale particles of rutile are transparent to visible light but are highly effective in the absorption of UV light. Hence, they are used in sunscreens to protect against UV induced skin damage.

Rutile is a mineral composed primarily of titanium dioxide, TiO2. Rutile is the most common natural form of TiO2. Rutile has among the highest refractive indices of any known mineral and also exhibits high dispersion. Natural rutile may contain up to 10% iron and significant amounts of niobium and tantalum. Rutile, when present in large enough quantities in beach sands, forms an important constituent of heavy mineral sands ore deposits. Finely powdered rutile is a brilliant white pigment and is used in paints, plastics, papers, foods, and other applications that call for a bright white color. Titanium dioxide pigment is the single greatest use of titanium worldwide. Nanoscale particles of rutile are transparent to visible light but are highly effective in the absorption of UV light. Hence, they are used in sunscreens to protect against UV induced skin damage.

Ilmenite is a weakly magnetic titanium-iron oxide mineral which is iron-black or steel-gray. It is a crystalline iron titanium oxide (FeTiO3) with a hexagonal crystal system and a metallic lustre. The majority of the ilmenite mined is used as a raw material for pigment production. The product is titanium dioxide, which is ground into a fine powder and is a highly white substance used as a base in high-quality paint, paper and plastics applications. The sands of Sankaramangalam in Kerala were found to contain several rare earths like Ilmenite, Zircon and Rutile. KMML is involved in the harvesting of these minerals from the seas, which are used as basic raw materials for a variety of industries. The Mineral Separation Unit (MS Unit) is engaged in the separation of Ilmenite, Rutile, Leucoxene, Monazite, Silliminite etc from the beach sand. The MS Unit employs Gravitational, Magnetic and High Tension Electrostatic Techniques for separation of minerals from the sand.