Titanium is a chemical element with the element symbol "Ti" and the atomic number 22.
Titanium makes up 0.41% of the Earth's shell and is the tenth most common element in the Earth's crust,
although pure titanium is rare in the Earth. The main occurrence of titanium is in Australia, Scandinavia,
North America or Malaysia. Furthermore, titanium has a high price because the production process is expensive.
Titanium is a shiny, silvery metal with a high melting point of 1668°C. Titanium was discovered in 1791 in England by
William Gregor, but pure titanium metal (99.9%) was first produced in 1910 by Matthew A. Hunter.
Properies of Titanium
The light metal titanium is a base metal with low density. It is the heaviest metal among the light metals.
When exposed to air, titanium forms an oxidic protective layer, which makes it corrosion-resistant.
Titanium does not rust and is very stable and strong up to a temperature of about 400°C.
Above 400°C, titanium becomes less strong and is less susceptible to corrosion.
Because of its strength, a tool should be chosen for turning or milling that is adapted to
the conditions of the material. Furthermore, titanium has a high reactivity at higher temperatures and
high pressure, but on the other hand it also has a low electrical and thermal conductivity.
However, titanium in powder form is irritating and highly flammable,
which is why a certain degree of caution is advisable.
Titanium is mainly extracted from ores such as ilmenite or rutile.
The extraction of titanium is very energy-intensive and takes place in three steps. First, the titanium ore is reduced to a porous form, which is also called "sponge", then the "sponge" is melted and joined together to form a block. In order for an alloy to be created, an additional alloying element must be added. In the last step, the ingot is reshaped,
for example rolled, so that it can be used better and more easily for further processing. The biggest use of titanium is as an alloying component for steel. But it is also used when high strength is required, for example as a substitute for stainless steel. Titanium is a good alternative in this case because it does not rust, is stronger and more stable. For this reason, it is also often used in high-tech areas such as space travel.
Do you wish to have a component made from titanium with the help of contract manufacturing?
Make an enquiry. All you have to do is upload your drawing to PART FACTORY, specify a quantity
and we will get back to you with an offer in line with the market.
Try it and make an enquiry today.