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This article gives comprehensive insights into Titanium Metal and its alloys.
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Titanium is a chemical element that is number 22 on the periodic table with an atomic weight of 47.9 and represented by the symbol “Ti”. It is the ninth most abundant element on the earth’s crust. Titanium is mined from rutile as titanium oxide, ilmenite as iron titanium oxide, and sphene as calcium titanium silicate.
The properties of titanium that make it ideal for a wide range of applications are its high strength to weight ratio, ductility, resistance to corrosion, and its compatibility with human tissue such that it can be used for medical implants. Titanium is one of the strongest metals due to its resistance to heat, water, and salt and lightweight, which are the main reasons it is used in common applications such as jewelry and essential applications like implants and the construction of aircraft and ships.
Titanium alloys retain the same properties as pure titanium but add other properties such as flexibility and malleability, which makes titanium alloys more useful than pure titanium. The six grades of pure titanium are grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 11 that are used to produce four titanium alloys that have traces of aluminum, molybdenum, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, zirconium, manganese, iron, chromium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. Titanium alloys are identified as Ti 6AL-4V, Ti 6AL ELI, Ti 3Al 2.5 and Ti 5Al-2.5Sn.
Commercially available titanium and its alloys from MetalmenTitanium is the first element in the D-Block of the periodic table. It has 22 electrons and 22 protons, which place it in period 4 and group 4 of the periodic table because of its electron configuration. The last two electrons of titanium are in the fourth orbital with a configuration of 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d² 4s², an electronic configuration that explains the chemical bonds of titanium and its properties.
Approximately 0.63% of the earth’s crust contains titanium with 90% of it found in ilmenite minerals that contain iron, titanium, and oxygen, known as iron titanium oxide (FeTiO3). The remaining amount of titanium is found in anatase, perovskite, rutile, leucoxene, and sphene.
Titanium is extracted from sand, rocks, soil, and clay using open pit mining or underground mining, the use of which depends on the location of titanium deposits. Beneficiation techniques, such as crushing, grinding, screening, magnetic separation, and flotation, are used to increase the titanium content and remove impurities.
Titanium metal is known to have five stable isotopes. These include titanium-46, titanium-47, titanium-48, titanium-49, and titanium-50. The most abundant isotope of titanium metal is titanium-48 with 73.8% natural abundance, but there are numerous radioisotopes of titanium. Today, 21 radioisotopes of titanium metal are known; the most stable are titanium-44, titanium-45, titanium-51, and titanium-52. All four stable radioisotopes have a different half-life. The half-life of titanium-44 is 63 years, titanium-45 has a half-life of 184.8 minutes, titanium-51 has a half-life of 5.76 minutes, and titanium-52 has a half-life of 1.7 minutes.
Titanium has five stable isotopes with the most abundant isotope, at 73.8%, being titanium-48.
Titanium-46 (46Ti) 8% abundant
Titanium-47 (47Ti) 7.8% abundant
Titanium-48 (48Ti) 73.8% abundant
Titanium-49 (49Ti) 5.5% abundant
Titanium-50 (50Ti) 5.3% abundant
The oxidation state, the number of electrons an atom can lose or gain when forming chemical bonds, of titanium is +4, which indicates that no further oxidation of the metal center is possible. Since titanium is a transition metal, a metal that serves as a bridge between the two sides of the periodic table, it can have more than one oxidation state, which are +2, +3, and +4 with the most stable oxidation states being +4 and +2.
Titanium and its alloys immediately oxidize when exposed to the air to form titanium oxide. Despite its quick reaction with air, titanium is slow to react with water because it forms a passive oxide coating that protects it from further oxidation. The initial protective layer is 1 to 2 nanometers (nm) thick but grows to 25 nm over four years. It is the presence of its oxide layer that makes titanium resistant to corrosion.
Titanium has 21 radioisotopes with atomic weights ranging from 39.99 (40Ti) unified atomic mass units (u) up to 57.966 u (58Ti) with each radioisotope having a different half life. The most stable of the titanium radioisotopes are Titanium-44, Titanium-45, Titanium-51, and Titanium-52.Z
NuclideTitanium is an inert metal with superior physical properties. Its high strength-to-weight ratio makes it ideal for applications where lightweight and strength are essential, such as joint replacements and dental implants. Titanium has a density of 4.5 g/cm³ with a melting point of more than 3000°F (1650°C) and boiling point of 5948°F (3287°C). Its high melting and boiling points make it a very useful metal in terms of refractory properties.
In an oxygen free environment, titanium is very ductile. Its lustrous, gray-white appearance makes it useful for coating metal. Titanium dioxide is nearly clear with a high refractive index creating an optical dispersion that is higher than that of diamonds. Titanium has low thermal and electrical conductivity compared to other metals. When cooled below its critical temperature, 0.49 K, it exhibits superconducting properties. In its elemental form and bombarded with deuterons, titanium can become radioactive.
The chemical properties of titanium are similar to those of zirconium and silica, which are part of group 4 (IVB) in the middle of the periodic table. Elements in group 4 are chemically related and have properties that place them between metals and nonmetals. Like magnesium and aluminum, titanium and its alloys oxidize whenever exposed to the air.
Titanium reacts with oxygen molecules at around 1200°C and exhibits the same behavior at 610°C when oxygen is in its purest form. It is an inert element in the presence of oxygen and water due to the passive oxide coating it creates as protection from further oxidation. The thickness of the oxide layer increases the longer titanium is exposed to oxygen.
Titanium chemistry is dominated by its oxidation state +4 due to +4 being titanium’s most stable state. Titanium complexes have an octahedral coordination geometry with titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) being the notable exception, which has a tetrahedral geometry. The high oxidation state of titanium tetrachloride results in a higher degree of covalent bonds. As a transition metal, titanium is known to form aqua Ti (IV) complexes, known as water ligand titanium ion complexes.
Titanium nitrides and carbides are members of the refractory transition family.
Nitrides of titanium have properties of both covalent compounds:
Titanium nitride (TiN) has a hardness of 9.0 on the Mohs scale, which is the same as sapphire and carborundum and is used as coating material for cutting tools, such as drill bits, and aesthetic purposes because of its shiny gold finish. In the fabrication of semiconductors, it serves as a barrier material.
Titanium halides are produced by a direct reaction between titanium and halogen gas (X²). The most common titanium halide is titanium tetrachloride (TiCl&sup4;), a colorless and volatile liquid. Industrial titanium tetrachloride is yellowish and hydrolyzes in the air to emit white clouds.
The Kroll process is used to transform crude titanium into titanium metal. The steps of the process include extraction, purification, sponge production, alloy creation, and forming and shaping. Since every step of the process is costly and time consuming, no one industry performs all five steps with various industries completing individual stages.
With extraction, ore, in the form of minerals containing titanium, are shipped to a company for processing. Of the various types of ore, rutile and ilmenite are the most commonly used for processing. Ilmenite requires pre-processing to remove its iron content. The ore is placed in a fluidized bed reactor with chlorine and carbon, which is heated to 900°C. The chemical reaction results in the creation of titanium tetrachloride in an impure form with carbon monoxide being a byproduct. Impurities, including iron, are present in the titanium tetrachloride, which have to be removed to produce titanium dioxide.
Titanium tetrachloride is purified using high temperature vacuum distillation. The metal from the extraction process is loaded into large distillation tanks to be heated. The purification process separates impurities using fractional distillation and precipitation. Since different elements have different boiling points, during distillation, the various elements are removed as they reach their boiling point. The impurities that are removed include vanadium, silicon, magnesium, zirconium, and iron.
With sponge formation, purified titanium tetrachloride is emptied into a stainless steel reactor vessel in liquid form. Magnesium is added and the mixture is heated to the temperature of 1100°C such that the magnesium can react with chlorine to produce magnesium chloride. Argon gas is pumped into the vessel to remove any air to avoid a reaction with oxygen and nitrogen. The titanium from the process is not pure but is in solid form. It is removed from the vessel by a boring process and treated with a mixture of water and hydrochloric acid in order to remove any excess magnesium and magnesium chloride. The titanium generated from the process is in sponge form.
The pure titanium sponge is mixed with different alloys and scrap metals to create alloys using a consumable electrode arc furnace. After melting and mixing of the metals in the proper proportions, the mass is compacted and welded to form a sponge electrode, which is melted in a vacuum arc furnace to form ingots for further processing to create various industrial and commercial products.
The ingots are removed from the furnace, inspected for defects, packaged, and shipped to be used to manufacture titanium alloy goods. The properties of each ingot are checked to ensure they meet customer requirements. The ingots go through different processes, such as welding, forming, casting, forging, and powder metallurgy during product manufacturing.
When titanium is separated from its impurities, magnesium and magnesium chloride is left behind, which are byproducts of the Kroll process and are recycled in recycling cells to separate the magnesium and chlorine into their stable forms, solid magnesium and chlorine gas. During the collection process, chlorine gas is collected at the top of the recycling cell. The solid magnesium and chlorine gas are saved to be used again in the Kroll process.
In the fourth stage, the pure titanium sponge is mixed with different alloys and scrap metals to create usable alloys with the help of a consumable-electrode arc furnace. After melting and mixing all required metals in the required proportion, the mass is then compacted and welded to form a sponge electrode. This sponge electrode is melted in a vacuum arc furnace to form ingots. These ingots are usually melted again and again to fabricate commercially acceptable ingots.
In the last stage of the Kroll process, the ingots are removed from the furnace, inspected for defects, then sent out to be used to create titanium alloy goods. The properties of each ingot are checked to ensure they meet the requirements of customers. The ingots go through various processes such as welding, forming, casting, forging, powder metallurgy, etc. to be shaped into the finish well. It all depends upon the specification of the required product.
During the Kroll process, when the titanium is separated from the impurities, a significant amount of magnesium and magnesium chloride is left behind. This by-product of the Kroll process is recycled immediately in a recycling cell. The recycling cell separates the magnesium and chlorine into their stable forms. I.e., magnesium in solid form and chlorine in gas form. The chlorine gas is collected from the top of the recycling cell, and both of these components are used again in the Kroll process.
Pure titanium comes in grades that are suitable for specific applications. Titanium CP4, Grade 1, is the softest grade of titanium and has the highest ductility, toughness, and corrosion resistance. Due to its cold forming characteristics and welding properties, it is popular in architecture, automotive production, the medical industry, and processing industries. Grade 1 is available in bars, flanges, sheets, welding wires, and forgings.
Another grade that has excellent cold forming properties with corrosion resistance and welding properties is CP3, Grade 2. It is used in aerospace, automotive production, chemical industry, architecture, marine, and medical industries.
The following tables indicate the available standards & forms of pure titanium grades.
S. No. Grade Standards Available Forms 1 CP4 – Grade 1 ASME SB-363, ASME SB-381, ASME SB-337, ASME SB-338, ASME SB-348, ASTM F-67, ASME SB-265, ASME SB-337, ASME SB-338 Bars, Flanges, Sheets, Welding Wires, and Forgings 2 CP3 – Grade 2 ASME SB-363, ASME SB-381, ASME SB-337, ASME SB-338, ASME SB-348, ASTM F-67, AMS 4921, ASME SB-265, AMS 4902, ASME SB-337, ASME SB-338, AMS 4942 Bar, Fittings, Flanges, Forgings, Pipe, Plate, Sheet, Tube, Welding Wire, Wire 3 CP2 – Grade 3 ASME SB-363, ASME SB-381, ASME SB-337, ASME SB-338, ASME SB-348, ASTM F-67, AMS 4921, ASME SB-265, AMS 4902, ASME SB-337, ASME SB-338, AMS 4942 Bar, Fittings, Flanges, Forgings, Pipe, Plate, Sheet, Tube, Welding Wire, Wire 4 CP1 – Grade 4 ASME SB-363, ASME SB-381, ASME SB-337, ASME SB-348, ASTM F-67, AMS 4921, ASME SB-265, AMS 4901, ASME SB-338 Bar, Forgings, Sheet, Welding Wire, Wire 5 Grade 7 ASME SB-363, ASME SB-381, ASME SB-337, ASME SB-338, ASME SB-348, ASME SB-265, ASME SB-337, ASME SB-338 Bar, Forgings, Plate, Sheet, Tube, Welding Wire, Wire 6 Grade 11 – CP Ti-0.15Pd ASME SB-338 TubeThe following tables indicate the available standards of titanium grades.
S. No. Grade Standards Available Forms 1 Grade 5 – Titanium 6Al-4V ASME SB-265, AMS 4911, ASME SB-348, AMS 4928, AMS 4965, AMS 4967 Various 2 Grade 6 – Titanium 5Al-2.5Sn ASME SB-381, AMS 4966, MIL-T-9046, MIL-T-9047, ASME SB-348, AMS 4976, AMS 4956, ASME SB-265, AMS 4910, AMS 4926 Bar, Forgings Plate, Sheet, Wire 3 Grade 9 – Titanium 3Al-2.5V AMS 4943, AMS 4944, ASME SB-338 Bar, Forgings Plate, Sheet, Wire 4 Grade 12 – Ti-0.3-Mo-0.8Ni ASME SB-338 Tube 5 Grade 19 – Titanium Beta C MIL-T-9046, MIL-T-9047, ASME SB-348, AMS 4957, AMS 4958, ASME SB-265 Various 6 Grade 23 – Titanium 6Al-4V ELI AMS 4911, AMS 4928, AMS 4930, AMS 4931, AMS 4935, AMS 4965, AMS 4967, AMS 4985, AMS 4991, MIL -T-9046, MIL-T-9047, BSTA 10,11,12, BSTA 28,56,59, DIN 3.7165, AMS 4907 ELI, AMS 4930 ELI, AMS 4956 ELI, ASTM F136 ELI, UNS R56407 Bar, Forgings, Plate, Sheet, Welding Wire, Wire 7 6Al-6V-2Sn – Titanium 6-6-2 AMS 4919, AMS 4952, AMS 4975, DIN 3.7164, GE B50 TF22, GE B50TF21, GE B50TF22, GE C50TF7, MIL F-83142, MIL T-9046, MIL T-9047, PWA 1220, UNS R54620 Bar, Plate, Sheet 8 6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo – Titanium 6-2-4-2 AMS 4981, MIL-T-9047 Bar, Wire Sheet, Plate, Forgings, Fittings, Flanges, Seamless Pipe, Seamless Tube, Welded Pipe, Welded Tube 9 6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo – Titanium 6-2-4-6 AMS 4981 Bar, Plate, Sheet 10 8Al-1Mo-1V – Titanium 8-1-1 MIL-T-9046, MIL-T-9047, AMS 4972, AMS 4915, AMS 4973, AMS 4955, AMS 4916 Forgings, Bar, Sheet, Plate, Strip, Extrusions, Wire 11 Titanium 15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al AMS 4914, ASTM B265 Sheet, Foil 12 10V-2Fe-3Al AMS 4983, AMS 4984, AMS 4986, AMS 4987 Bar, Forgings, Plate, Sheet, Seamless Pipe, Seamless Tube, Welded Pipe, Welded Tube, WireAlloy based titanium grades include Grades 5, 6, 9, 12, 19, and 23, which have excellent toughness, high strength, and good welding and fabrication properties.
Other grades, such as Titanium 6-6-2 (6Al-6V-2Sn) and Titanium 6-2-4-2 (6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo), are two phased alpha-beta alloys that can be heat treated and have low toughness and ductility combined with exceptional strength. Cold forming and welding are difficult with these grades because of their high strength, but they can be welded using an inert gas shield and fusion welding process. The area affected by the welding process will have less toughness and ductility than the original material.
Titanium is a tough lightweight metal that has an extremely high strength to weight ratio. It is alloyed with steel to reduce grain size and with stainless steel as a substitute for carbon. Due to its white pigmentation, it is used in paints, paper, and plastics. The different forms of titanium are offered as a means of meeting the high demand for a metal that is strong and resistant to corrosion, fatigue, and cracking.
The different types of titanium wire are pure, alloy, glasses, straight, welding, hanging, coil, bright, medical, and nickel with each type having different properties and uses. Titanium wire has all of the advantages of titanium, which makes it useful in a wide range of applications for several industries. Since its discovery in the 18th century, researchers have been developing new and innovative ways to make use of titanium wire.
Titanium wire is made from TiO2, Ti3Al2O5, and Ti4SiC6, which are melted and extruded through a die or milling cutter at 1760°C (3200°F) for a second. The process produces wire with diameters between 0.2 mm up to 0.25 mm (0.008 in up to 0.01 in) that can withstand temperatures reaching 900°C (1652°F). The high strength of titanium wire is due to its ductility, elasticity, and low shear strength at high temperatures. The fact that it has these beneficial properties makes it ideal for use in aerospace and biomedical engineering.
As with other types of wire, titanium wire comes in a wide assortment of gauges and grades. Lower grades of titanium, such as GR 1 to GR 4, are unalloyed while all other grades are alloyed with a wide variety of metals. The gauges of titanium wire run from 1 up to 39 with 1 being very firm, hard, and solid. As the gauges get high, the wire gets more pliable. The gauges that are used the most are between 10 and 30.
Titanium pipe is a lightweight and strong pipe that is widely used in heat exchangers. Several grades are used with grade 5 being the most used due to its distinctive strength and toughness. The strength of titanium is equal to that of steel but 57% steel’s weight. In atmospheres at 500°C (932°F), titanium pipe is able to maintain its strength and durability, which is also true at -250°C (-418°F).
The density of titanium pipe is 4.5g/cm3, which is 60% that of steel. Some titanium alloys have a greater strength/density than alloys of steel. Additionally, the wall thickness of titanium pipe is thinner than copper but still able to maintain all of its characteristics and properties. This broadens the number of applications where titanium pipe can be used because of its lower weight but increased strength.
The strength and lightweight of titanium pipe makes an ideal material for the construction of airplanes. It is used in chemical processing because of its strength as well as its resistance to the effects of chemicals. In the oil and gas industry, titanium pipe is used for its ability to withstand high pressure and high temperatures.
The four methods for processing titanium pipe are forging, rolling, extrusion, and drawing with the most used method being forging due its adjusting the structure of titanium. Of the remaining three, rolling is the most used and is a common pipe manufacturing process.
Titanium flanges are used to connect titanium pipes and split pipe networks for inspection and cleaning purposes. Grade 2 titanium is most commonly used due to its low density, making it ideal for applications where weight may be a concern. In addition, its corrosion resistance and strength make it ideal for marine applications, chemical processing, and desalination piping.
When making connections in piping systems, titanium flanges have protruding rims that are welded or bolted to form a secure connection. The job of a titanium flange is to distribute the load of a connection and strengthen it. Weld neck titanium flanges are butt welded where the tapered end of the flange is welded to the end of the pipe fitting. They are deformation resistant, which makes them ideal for high pressure piping systems in any conditions.
Another form of titanium flanger is a slip flange that slides over the end of piping and is welded in place. It has a low hub and excellent strength due to its being welded on the inside and outside. They are used for low pressure applications.
Unlike other forms of titanium flanges that are welded, threaded titanium flanges, that are used for special applications and do not require being welded. They are used with small diameter piping that has high pressure. The threading of titanium flanges is only possible with smaller flanges because it is too hard to thread larger flanges.
The three titanium flanges described above are a few of the many kinds of flanges. The list of titanium flanges includes blind, integral, orifice, socket weld, plate, and custom, which have facing types of flat, raised, ring joint, tongue and groove, and male and female. Each of the types of titanium flanges is classified by its pressure temperature rating, which is its allowable working gauge pressure. As the rating of a flange increases, the higher the pressure it can withstand.
Titanium plate is used in a wide range of industries including medicine due to its biocompatibility. It comes in thicknesses of 2 mm (0.079 in) up to 150 mm (6 in) and is available in all grades of titanium. The Kroll method is used to produce titanium from titanium tetrachloride. Titanium plates are known for their toughness and superior strength when enduring repeated load stress.
The Kroll process for manufacturing titanium plate is a pyrometallurgical process that produces titanium plate from titanium tetrachloride, which is created by oxidizing TiO2 with chlorine, a reaction that occurs at 1000°C (1832°F). Metal chloride impurities are distilled to a pure mixture of TiCl4 that is mixed with magnesium. At temperatures of 1000°C, a reaction occurs in an atmosphere of argon where the chloride is slowly removed to produce pure titanium in sponge form.
The sponge titanium is subjected to leaching or vacuum distillation to remove impurities. The resulting materials are jack hammered, crushed, pressed, and melted. From this, titanium plates are formed into various sizes and diameters using sintering, hot rolling, and cold rolling. Each of these methods begins with a slab of titanium that is shaped and processed to the proper dimensions.
Titanium rods come in various forms, including square, hexagonal, and flat. The different shapes of titanium rods make them easy to store and transport. They are manufactured using forging, rolling, extrusion, casting, and spinning. Though they can be used as structural supports, titanium rods are normally melted down to create other titanium products.
The different shapes of titanium rods are made from pure titanium or its alloys. They have all of the beneficial properties of titanium, which makes them a popular material for use in a wide variety of industries. Common processes used to produce titanium rods include hot forging, hot rolling, extrusion, casting, and spinning. The various manufacturing techniques are used individually or together depending on the desired nature of the titanium rod.
As with many forms of titanium, titanium rods are used in several industrial, medical, and commercial applications. Certain types of titanium rods are used in orthopedic surgery and have different styles of ends to fit the needs of a patient. In many cases, titanium alloy rods are used due to their enhanced strength.
One of the most popular uses for titanium rods is in the aerospace industry due to titanium’s lightweight and exceptional strength. Thin titanium rods are used in the manufacture of notebook computers for their appearance. A unique use for titanium is as armor for the military because armored vests made of titanium are easy to wear.
As with titanium plates, titanium sheets are widely used due to titanium's properties. The exceptional strength of titanium makes titanium sheets ideal for applications that require a lightweight but strong metal for protection. In addition, titanium's non-magnetic and biocompatible properties make it useful for the manufacture of medical implants and aerospace equipment. Titanium sheets are available in various grades depending on the needs of an application. Grade 2 and grade 5 are the most commonly used, with other grades used to fit a specific application.
Titanium sheets are produced in much the same way as titanium plates with the difference between the two being their thickness. They are a more flexible form of titanium, which has made them essential to a wide range of applications. Titanium sheets are used as a heat barrier that blocks heat and prevents it from spreading. This particular property has made it popular as protective material for race car drivers.
The resistance of Titanium sheet to heat makes it necessary to shape and cut it using cold cutting to prevent changing the chemical properties of the titanium. Common cutting methods are waterjet and stamping, which are used in titanium product manufacturing for shaping and forming. Formed and shaped titanium sheets are used in the manufacture of jet engines, springs, and deep sea production risers.
Titanium is used in the manufacture of high quality tubing due to its strength, density, and corrosion resistance. It is a replacement for steel and stainless steel because of its lightweight. The density of titanium tubing is 60% less than that of steel or nickel based alloys with strength that is higher than austenitic or ferritic stainless steel. One of the main reasons for the wide use of stainless steel is its corrosion resistance. Yet, when comparing stainless steel to titanium, titanium has proven to have greater resistance to corrosion with a higher melting point.
The various sizes of titanium tubing are used in applications that require a strong, tough, and highly resistant metal. Many of these conditions are where stainless steel fails and does not have sufficient strength. This aspect of titanium has made it one of the most dependable metals on the market.
Since titanium tubing can have thinner walls and is lightweight, it is the ideal metal for situations where weight is a concern. Even though the walls of titanium tubing can be significantly thinner, the tubing still retains its characteristic strength and durability. After being worked and shaped into any configuration, titanium tubing retains its stiffness and high melting point. The list of manufacturers and applications that depend on titanium tubing include aircraft hydraulic systems, medical implants, offshore drilling rig components, subsea equipment, and marine and chemical processing plants.
Titanium bar is made from titanium sponge that has been melted with alloying elements and then remelted to be die cast or vacuum arc remelted (VAR) to form slabs. The manufacturing of titanium bars comes from casting or forging of the slabs. As with all forms of titanium, titanium bars are lightweight, corrosion resistant, and highly durable. They serve as the raw material for the formation of products for aerospace, military armor, and architectural features.
Raw or crude titanium comes from rutile ores, ilmenite ores, and sphene ores that are put through Kroll processing to produce titanium sponge. Titanium bars come in multiple grades that have different strengths, forms of resistance, and durability. The most common grades used to produce titanium bars are 2 and 5. Titanium grade 2 is a member of the grades of titanium that is 99% titanium and has a low density, which makes it lighter. Grade 5 is alloyed with aluminum and vanadium, which gives it a higher strength to weight ratio than grade 2 and makes it scratch resistant.
Bars are the most common form of titanium that is sold and shipped by titanium producers. They come in a wide range of diameters up to 35.56 cm (14 in). The shapes of titanium bars include round, square, rectangular, octagonal, and hexagonal. Their shapes are determined by the manufacturing process and the manufacturer.
Titanium foil is a thin, highly flexible, durable, and strong layer of pure titanium with thicknesses of 0.254 mm (0.01 in) up to 0.0762 mm (0.003 in). It is formed by being rolled or pressed multiple times in order to thin it to the desired thickness. Titanium foil’s thickness gives it several advantages in regard to manufacturing and processing. Since it comes in rolled coils, titanium foil can be cut, pressed, shaped, configured, and engineered to meet the needs of a wide range of products.
As with several other forms of titanium, titanium foil begins as titanium sponge that is melted, pressed, rolled, and cut to the exact required dimensions. Although it may get confused with titanium sheet, it is differentiated by its thickness which is in fractions of an inch or millimeter. Titanium foil can be made from any grade of titanium with grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, which are 99% titanium, and grade 9 being the most common.
The wide use of titanium foil is due to its exceptional strength in comparison to aluminum and copper foils. It is highly durable in chemical operations and can resist the effects of high temperatures. Titanium foil is easily molded and formed to enhance the protection of products, equipment and devices.
Titanium is valued as a high quality metal that can be used in applications that require a strong durable metal able to withstand the effects of stress and pressure. It is lighter than steel but just as strong and has twice the strength of aluminum. Titanium has a melting temperature of 1668°C (3034°F) and resists abrasion, cavitation, erosion.
Most titanium ore is used to create titanium dioxide TiO2, the cost of which can be used to determine the price of titanium. The price of titanium dioxide varies in accordance with its market value. The cost of titanium metal has gradually decreased over the years. In 2005, a metric ton of titanium cost $21,000. In 2016, a metric ton cost $3,750. The lower cost is due to the development of better techniques for separating the oxygen atoms from the pure titanium.
In comparison to other metals, titanium tends to be more expensive. A kilogram of stainless steel can cost anywhere from $1 up to $1.50. Aluminum can cost between $2 and $2.50 per kilogram. The same amount of titanium can cost between $35 and $50. The wide difference in costs is one of the reasons that manufacturers look for alternatives to using titanium.
What makes titanium more cost effective than other metals is its longevity and exceptional properties, which far exceed the characteristics of other metals. Its use may enhance the price of a final product but ensures the long life and excellent performance of a product.
USTi produces a wide range of titanium products including bars, rods, pipe, tube, plate, and sheets. The company, as a leading metals producer, processes titanium and titanium alloys, zirconium, tantalum, and niobium, to name a few. USTi provides titanium to the construction industry, aerospace industry, medicine, automotive, and marine industry. The company works with all grades of titanium from the malleable GR1 up to WPT12, unalloyed titanium. USTi prides itself on working with its customers to produce products that fit their needs and demands.
AEE is a supplier of high purity metals, powders, and compounds. The company supplies high quality titanium powder that is used for the manufacture of complex parts that require a high strength to weight ratio, paints, coatings,and for electronic applications. AEE titanium powder comes in a wide range of particle sizes and spherical form.The goal of AEE is to deliver high purity titanium and titanium powder that meets the needs of their many industrial customers.
A-1 Alloys is recognized for its excellent customer service and wide range of metal products including titanium, steel, stainless steel, lead and nickel. As a service to its customers, A-1 Alloys forms and shapes their metals to exactly meet the needs of a customer’s project or application. With vast experience in metal forming, casting, extrusion, and finishing, A-1 can efficiently and expertly produce titanium and other metals with the correct tolerances in A-1 Alloys’ well known high quality.
Reliable Source is a source for a wide array of metals at a cost that can fit any company’s budget. The company’s main goal is to lower customer costs and provide a high level of customer service such that every customer knows that they are receiving the highest quality titanium at the most reasonable price. Reliable provides a full range of metal forming services, including welding, cutting, heat treating, stamping, and forming, to name a few. The company is dedicated to furthering its business with the customer in mind.
Admat is a supplier of titanium in sheets and plates in the exact thickness and width to meet the requirements of an application. Flat rolled titanium can be cut to specific lengths up to 3000 mm (118 in) with widths up to 1000 mm (39.3 in). Titanium plates are available in thicknesses up to 35 mm (1.38 in) and diameters up to 1000 mm (39.3 in). Admat produces all products to meet ASTM or AMS requirements but produces custom products upon request.
Titanium plays a significant role in the medical industry because of its biocompatibility. It is a non-toxic material that has been used in many surgical tools and implants. From hip ball socket replacement to dental implants, titanium has been used in the medical industry for various purposes. These implants can stay in place for more than 20 years. The titanium implants usually contain about 4% of vanadium and 4% to 6% of aluminum.
Titanium has an ability to Osseo-integrate, which allows us to use it in dental implants and orthopedic implants that can last for 30 years. Due to lower modulus elasticity, titanium implants allow the skeletal load to be distributed equally between the bone and implant, resulting in the reduction of bone degradation due to stress and periprosthetic bone fracture. Titanium has greater stiffness than the human bone, which can result in bone deterioration in the case of increased load.
Titanium is refined into titanium dioxide that has a white pigment, which is used in paper, toothpaste, plastics, and paints. When titanium is used in paint, the created mixture performs better in severe temperatures and humid environments. Titanium dioxide is added to graphite composite fishing rods and golf clubs to increase their strength.
Titanium dioxide is a chemically inert compound that is resistant to corrosion and does not fade in sunlight. It has an opaque appearance that makes it suitable for use as pigment in the manufacture of household plastics. Titanium dioxide is used in sunscreen due to its high refractive index and optical dispersion.
Titanium is an ideal material for the manufacture of aircraft, missiles, and armor plating and is used in the manufacture of structural parts, landing gear, exhaust ducts, firewalls, and hydraulic systems. It accounts for almost 50% of materials used in aircraft production. The titanium alloys used consist of aluminum, nickel zirconium, and vanadium.
Titanium is durable and biologically inert, which has increased its popularity in the jewelry industry. Its inertness makes it a popular choice among people with allergies and people who live in humid climates. Titanium’s durability, dent resistance, light weight, and corrosion resistance make it useful for manufacturing wristwatches and watch cases.
Artists use titanium for creating sculptures and decorations. When it is mixed with gold to produce a 24-karat gold alloy, the result is an alloy harder than pure 24-karat gold. Anodized titanium has optical interference fringes and a variety of bright colors, which make it popular for body piercings.
Titanium is a corrosion-resistant material; this makes it ideal for use in the marine industry. Naval ships' hulks are made of titanium alloys because of their corrosion resistance to seawater. Titanium is also used to manufacture propeller shafts, heat exchanges, rigging, heat chillers for saltwater aquariums, drivers’ knives and finishing lines, and leaders. Additionally, it is used in housing and ocean deployed surveillance equipment and monitoring devices.
Titanium is used in the automotive industry, particularly where low weight and high strength rigidity are required. It is also cost-effective considering metal is generally too expensive to be used in huge amounts. It is used to manufacture exhaust and intake valves inside engines because of its heat resistance and high strength.
It is impossible to find titanium in a natural metallic state. Its concentration in the air of urban areas is below 0.1 µg/m³. In some areas, where factories are close, 1.0 µg/m³ has been reported. This concentration affects drinking water and food items. Human intake of titanium has been reported from 300 µg/day to 2 mg/day.
Studies on animals and humans have shown that when titanium dioxide is inhaled, it remains inert. Fibrosis due to exposure to titanium is likely to be caused by concomitant exposure to other elements present in titanium dust rather than titanium dioxide. In animals, titanium nitrides, titanium hydrides, and titanium carbides can cause fibrogenic effects and kidney and liver dystrophy.
Titanium tetrachloride has a different effect on humans and animals. In humans, it causes skin burns and irritation in the eyes. In powdered form, when injected in rats, it causes lymphosarcoma and fibrosarcoma. There is no evidence that titanium has any carcinogenic effects on humans. Studies have not shown any detrimental effects of titanium dioxide on the lungs.
Titanium implants and prosthetics have no effect on human tissue. Osseous and soft tissue in animals and humans is tolerant of titanium. Compounds, such as dioxides, oxides, tannates, and salicylates, play an important role in dermatology and cosmetics. Exposure to certain types of titanium compounds have been linked to pulmonary fibrosis.
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