Titanium is a chemical element that is found in nature only as an oxide. In a chemical process, titanium oxide can be converted into titanium, which is a silver-colored metal. Titanium metal is able to withstand very high pressure and has a very high resistance to decay. For this reason, the use of titanium is common in many industries. Titanium was first discovered in the 18th century in Britain. The word Titan is used to name it, meaning the giants of Greek mythology. This chemical substance is found abundantly in the lithosphere layer of the Earth’s crust. Titanium is found in almost all living organisms, in open water and rocks. The most abundant substance containing titanium is titanium dioxide, which is usually used in analog photography and making white pigments. During this article, we will try to evaluate titanium after a brief review and providing explanations of its industrial functions.
?How abundant is titanium on the planet
Titanium is the ninth most abundant element in the earth’s crust and the seventh most abundant metal in the earth. Titanium is found in most parts of the earth, but the countries of Australia, New Zealand, Ukraine, Mozambique and Sierra Leone have huge reserves of titanium. In 2019, more than two hundred and ten thousand tons of titanium were extracted, which were mainly processed in China, Japan and Russia.
Chemical properties of titanium element
Just like aluminum and magnesium, titanium oxidizes immediately after contact with air, but a layer of oxide covers its surface and prevents deeper areas from oxidizing. Titanium can resist sulfuric acid in room temperature. Titanium is highly reactive to the point where it will burn before it reaches its boiling point. Melting of titanium is possible only in conditions away from oxygen. Titanium reacts with air oxygen at 1200 degrees Celsius and with pure oxygen at 610 degrees Celsius.
?What are the uses of titanium
Considering the special chemical properties of titanium metal and its oxide, very special applications can be imagined for this element in industries.
Aerospace industry: Today, more than half of the titanium produced is used in the aerospace industry. It has already been said that titanium has a very high strength-to-weight ratio. For this reason, the aerospace industry is perhaps the first industry to use titanium. Over the past sixty years, jet engines using titanium have been able to improve a lot. The first aircraft made of titanium was commissioned by the US Army. Today, Boeing and Airbus companies use a lot of titanium in the construction of airplanes. Titanium is also used in the manufacture of tank armor and military vehicles.
Oil and gas industry: It is very common to use titanium in the construction of oil rigs, especially those located in the sea. Titanium has a very high resistance to corrosion, especially sea salt water. For this reason, it will be used in the construction of oil rigs located in water. One of the biggest challenges of the oil and gas industry is to achieve a longer lifespan for equipment, which titanium can help greatly.
Sports: Titanium can look very nice. In recent years, the use of titanium has increased in the transportation industry, especially in the manufacture of professional bicycles. Titanium can help make the bike lighter. Of course, the use of titanium also has disadvantages. Firstly, titanium is not very flexible, so you can’t hope to build bicycles with complex shapes. On the other hand, titanium is not very receptive to paint, so titanium bikes are usually offered without painting. Of course, using industrial torches, one can create a kind of beautiful rainbow surface on it. In general, making bicycles with titanium is not widespread and has its own niche market.
Architecture: In recent years, the use of titanium in architecture has increased. Titanium acts almost like glass and concrete in the field of heat conduction, so using it alongside such materials does not cause thermal stress. Also, titanium’s resistance to decay makes it suitable for use in buildings and increasing its life.
Household Appliances: Titanium can be used in a wide range of household appliances. Unlike nickel, titanium does not cause skin sensitivity, so it is also used in jewelry. Remember that titanium has a shiny and beautiful appearance. Titanium is also used in making the frames of expensive glasses, toothbrushes, watches, exhaust pipes of expensive cars and golf clubs.
last word
Titanium is a beautiful and strong metal that can be used in making many objects and industries. The aerospace industry is largely dependent on this valuable metal. Titanium oxide is used in making construction paints, especially white paint. Although titanium can be replaced with other metals in some cases, but since the 18th century when this element has been known to mankind, new uses are found for it every day.
