TITANIUM (Ti, atomic number 22) Titanium is a lustrous grey metallic element used principally to make lightweight, resistant alloys. It is one of the transitional elements of the periodic table and has many desirable properties, most notably its incredible strength and durability.

Titanium is abundant on Earth and has been detected in meteorites, in our sun and other stars, titanium oxide bands being particularly prominent in the spectra of M type stars. Titanium is also found on our moon, rocks obtained during the Apollo 17 mission showed presence of titanium oxide (TiO2).

Titanium is immune to corrosive attacks by saltwater and marine atmosphere and exhibits exceptional resistance to a broad range of corrosive gases, acids and alkalis. Titanium is immune to microbiologically influenced corrosion and is physiologically inert and hypoallergenic. Titanium is virtually non-magnetic, making it ideal for applications where electromagnetic interference must be minimized. Pure titanium is about as strong as steel yet nearly 50% lighter. When added to various alloys, its hardness, toughness and tensile strength can be increased dramatically.

Titanium is never found uncombined and occurs as an oxide in ilmenite, rutile and sphene, and is present in titanates and in many iron ores. Titanium is present in the ash of coal, in plants, and in the human body. Titanium is ductile only when it is free of oxygen and nitrogen (air), melting at 1660C (3020F) and boiling at 3287C (5949F). The complex process of converting titanium ore into metal has only been commercially viable for a little more than 50 years. The use of titanium has since then expanded by an average of 8% per year.

Titanium was first discovered in 1791 and named the chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth independently discovered the element in rutile. Klaproth named the element Titanium, after the mythological Titans, first sons of the earth.

But isolating titanium would remain elusive for almost a century. Many failed attemps were made by scientists. The metal remained a laboratory curiosity until 1946, when William Justin Kroll of Luxembourg showed that titanium could be produced commercially by reducing titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) with magnesium. This method is widely used for titanium metal production today and Kroll is recognized as the father of this modern industry.

After the Second World War, Air Force studies concluded that titanium-based alloys were of potentially great importance. The emerging need for higher strength/weight ratios in jet aircraft structures and engines could not be satisfied efficiently by either steel or aluminum. The Department of Defence therefore provided production incentives to boost-start the titanium industry. After the impetus was provided by the aerospace industry, the ready availability of the metal gave rise to opportunities for new applications in other markets, such as chemical processing, medicine, power generation and more.

Titanium’s outstanding strength-to-lightweight ratio and its incredible resistance to most forms of corrosion have been the primary historical incentives for utilizing titanium in industry, replacing stainless steels, copper alloys and other metals.

Titanium’s many desirable properties have made it the metal of choice in many industries. No other engineering metal has risen so swiftly to pre-eminence in critical and demanding applications.

The main alloy used is Titanium 6.4 (6Al/4V). It is composed of 90% titanium, 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium. Titanium 6.4 was developed in the 1950's and is known as aircraft grade titanium. Aircraft grade titanium has a tensile strength of up to 150,000 psi (pounds per square inch) and a Brinell hardness value of 330.

For even stronger jewelry, extra hard Titanium 6.6.2 is used (6Al/6V/2Sn). It is composed of 86% titanium, 6% aluminum, 6% vanadium, 2% tin. This is practically the strongest titanium alloy on the market and is mainly used in the aerospace industry for its great strength and lightweight. Titanium 6.6.2 has a tensile strength of up to 180,000 psi and a Brinell hardness value of 389.