Ohio Contest Looks To Expand Use Of Lighter Metal

AKRON, Ohio—A university in Ohio is seeking a design for a new pedestrian bridge in a contest that could have implications for national defense.

The goal is for a bridge at the University of Akron that would be built completely out of titanium, a lightweight but expensive metal that resists corrosion. The contest, co-sponsored by the Defense Metals Technology Center in North Canton, aims to show that it can be feasible to use titanium on a larger scale.

Cost concerns have restricted its use. Defense officials believe wider acceptance could boost demand and lower the cost of producing titanium. They have ideas for using the lighter metal to help protect military vehicles from roadside bombs, for example.

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