Features and Interviews
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Written by Tom Vulcan
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March 22, 2010 2:18 pm EDT |
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Page 1 of 9 Not many strategic metals have more than four industry associations devoted to it. But titanium does: But perhaps this isn't too surprising for the fourth-most abundant metallic element and ninth-most abundant element in the Earth's crust, or for a metal with such a multiplicity of uses. On the other hand, it is a little curious, since only 5 percent of all mined and synthetic titanium minerals are actually used to make titanium metal, with the remaining 95 percent used to manufacture titanium dioxide (TiO2). In this article, we will look only at titanium metal, leaving the subject of titanium dioxide to a future piece. So, what is it with titanium that makes it so special? The Metal Of The Gods It seems particularly appropriate that titanium (before it was so named) should originally have been discovered by a man of God—Reverend William Gregor—in Cornwall, England, back in 1790. It wasn't until five years later, however, that the metal was actually named titanium, after the Titans, by the German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth. One hundred years later, in 1910, American chemist Matthew A. Hunter succeeded in obtaining titanium metal from one of its ores; consequently, he had the first industrial process to extract the metal named after him. That the metal should be named after the Titans is particularly apt, to a degree that would probably have astounded Professor Klaproth. Amongst other characteristics, titanium can boast of its: - Lightness: Its low density means that it weighs only around 56 percent as much as steel.
Data Source: The Engineering ToolBox - Strength-to-Weight Ratio: Titanium is the highest of any of today's structured metals.
Note: ksi = kilo-pounds per square inch (1 ksi = 1,000 psi) Source: International Titanium Association (ITA)
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Great overview on titanium. It's a good idea to invest in titanium companies right now as companies like Boeing are scaling up. The aerospace industry needs us along with composites and your seeing a lot more titanium in jewelry and in watch making.