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Titanium Facts |
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Titanium
is ranked
ninth
in abundance
among
the
elements
in the
crust
of the
earth
but
is never
found
in the
pure
state.
It occurs
as an
oxide
in the
minerals
ilmenite,
FeTiO3;
rutile,
TiO2;
and
sphene,
CaO
·
TiO2
·
SiO2.
The
world
production
of titanium
compound
exceeds
1 million
tonnes
annually,
of which
only
a small
proportion
is used
in the
production
of pure
titanium
metal
- about
100,000
tonnes,
mainly
in Russia,
the
USA
and
Japan.
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Titanium
has
a density
of just
4.505
kg per
cubic
metre,
but
combines
this
metallic
"lightness"
with
a strength,
especially
in titanium
alloys,
considerably
higher
than
aluminium
alloys
and
comparable
to the
best
structural
steel.
Conductivity
of heat
and
electricity
is low,
and
titanium
retains
its'
properties
in a
range
of approximately
-270oC
to +400oC.
At near
absolute
zero
titanium
becomes
superconductive.
At the
higher
temperature
limit,
strength
diminishes
and
oxidisation
increases,
limiting
the
range
of applications
at high
temperatures.
Titanium
melts
at about
1660°
C, boils
at about
3287°
C. The
atomic
weight
of titanium
is 47.9.
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Chemically,
titanium
is distinguished
by its
high
reactivity,
which
is only
surpassed
by metals
such
as magnesium,
calcium
and
sodium.
That
titanium
can
be employed
under
circumstances
where
most
other
structural
material
would
be subject
to severe
corrosion
is due
to the
properties
of its
oxide,
TiO
- it
is highly
resistant
and
forms
a self-healing
coating
which
is normally
only
about
0.01
mm thick.
If the
coating
is damaged
and
the
environment
contains
oxygen
in some
form,
the
titanium
and
oxygen
react
and
rebuilds
the
oxide.
In deoxidised
or reduction
environments,
the
oxide
protection
is weakened
and
the
metal
becomes
exposed
to corrosion.
Thus
where
resistance
to corrosion
is required,
the
resistance
can
often
be improved
through
the
introduction
of an
oxidation
agent
into
the
application
environment.
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Because
of its
strength
and
light
weight,
titanium
is used
in metallic
alloys
and
as a
substitute
for
aluminium.
Alloyed
with
aluminium
and
vanadium,
titanium
is used
in aircraft
for
fire
walls,
outer
skin,
landing-gear
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components,
hydraulic tubing,
engine supports,
compressor blades,
discs, and
housings of jet
engines. Titanium
is also widely used
in missiles and
space capsules;
the Mercury, Gemini,
and Apollo capsules
were made largely
of titanium. The
relative inertness
of titanium makes
it available as
a replacement for
bone and cartilage
in surgery and as
a pipe and tank
lining in the processing
of foods. It is
used in heat exchangers
in desalination
plants because of
its ability to withstand
salt-water corrosion.
In metallurgy, titanium
alloys are employed
as deoxidizers and
denitrogenizers
to remove oxygen
and nitrogen from
molten metals.
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copyrights 2004, AdvancedTitaniumMetals.com All rights
reserved. |
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