Titanium superhero qualities of strength, endurance and durability

Titanium is certainly a superhero of a metal. It is highly resistant to corrosion. It is lighter than steel, heavier than aluminum, and stronger than both metals. Although it is more expensive to invest initially, titanium is cheaper in the long run. This is because no service, maintenance or repairs are needed. What makes titanium so…heroic?

Discovered in 1793 by the German chemist MH Klaproth, titanium was named after the Titans in Greek mythology, as they are the embodiment of natural force. The element was not isolated until 1910. Titanium is the ninth most abundant element on the planet since it constitutes 25% of the earth’s crust. It occurs in nature only in chemical combinations of oxygen and iron.

Titanium has a high passivity. This allows it to have resistance to corrosion from many minerals and chlorides. Titanium is very useful in the medical field due to its non-toxicity. It is also biologically compatible human bone and tissue. Titanium is commonly found in prosthetics and medical implant products.

Titanium is first produced from Australian beach sand. The sand is converted to titanium-containing rutile ore and chlorinated in a sponge. Chlorine and coke combine with rutile to produce titanium tetrachloride.

The tetrachloride is converted to magnesium in a closed system, converting the by-products to sponge and magnesium chloride. Magnesium and magnesium chloride can be removed through the vacuum distillation process for reuse.

The sponge is melted with scrap metal and alloying elements. This can include vanadium, zirconium, tin, aluminum, and molybdenum. This is done in a vacuum arc reduction furnace to produce VAR ingots. It can also be done in an electron beam cold hearth furnace to produce remote electrodes. They can be VAR cast to meet aerospace requirements or to direct slabs.

VAR bars are cylindrical shapes weighing up to 17,500 pounds. Ingots are forged into slabs or rectangular shapes. They can also be forged into bills or bar shapes. The ingots can also be used for investment casting material.

Post-processing or rolling of forged or cast slabs or billets results in mill products. These include titanium plates, bars, rods, and titanium wire forms. The production can also create titanium sheets that can be cut into strips. These strips are then formed into tubes or pipes.

There are many different grades of titanium that can be used for different purposes. Grade 1 is one of four commercially pure titanium grades, along with grades 3 and 4. Grade 1 is soft and the most ductile. It has great formability, toughness and high corrosion resistance. Grade 1 is available in titanium plate and tube.

Grade 2 is the workhorse due to its varied usability and availability. It is similar to grade 1 but stronger. Grade 2 has good weldability, strength, ductility, and formability. Grade 2 is available in bar and sheet form.

Grade 3 is the least used, but it is stronger than Grades 1 and 2. It is less malleable but has superior mechanics. Grade 3 application is used where strength and increased corrosion resistance are needed. Grade 4 is the strongest and has all the characteristics of the previous grades. When high strength is needed, grade 4 is used.

One of the most amazing things about titanium is its use in the medical world. Titanium is used for joint reconstruction. Titanium’s natural properties, such as being non-toxic and biologically compatible, make it perfect for rebuilding body parts.

Titanium is truly a superhero among different types of metals. Its strength, durability, low maintenance requirements, and resistance to corrosion make it a popular and useful metal. The formation and grades of titanium show how many applications and uses the metal has.