What Is The Third Most Common Titanium Metal? - News

Titanium alloys have evolved from being a strategic metal in their early days to becoming a versatile material widely used across various fields such as chemical engineering, aerospace, sports, outdoor activities, and healthcare. They are increasingly being adopted by industries and are becoming more widely recognized and accepted by the public.

1. Where Does the "Third Metal" Come From?

Engels once said, "Iron is the hallmark of feudal society; all civilized nations experienced their own heroic age during this period: the age of the iron sword, but also the age of the iron plow and the iron axe." To this day, whether in terms of production volume, range of applications, or scale of operations, it remains the undisputed leader in the metal industry.

Since the early 20th century, the use of aluminum has become increasingly widespread, rapidly gaining ground and earning the title of "the metal of the 20th century." Clearly, aluminum holds the "second-place spot" in the metal family in the common sense of the term.

Gradually, over the past half-century, titanium has once again garnered widespread attention. Scientists predict that by the 21st century, titanium production will surpass that of steel, making it the third most produced metal after iron and aluminum. For this reason, titanium is often referred to as "the third member of the metal family."

II. What Is the Use of the "Third Metal--Titanium"?

1. "Space Metal" Takes to the Skies

Generally speaking, aircraft traveling at speeds exceeding two or three times the speed of sound must be constructed from titanium alloys, as other metals are ill-suited for the task. Titanium's most valuable characteristics are its low density and high strength; in these respects, its performance surpasses even that of beryllium.

For example, titanium is much stronger and tougher than iron, yet its density is only slightly more than half that of iron, and it does not rust. Titanium is slightly heavier than aluminum, yet three times as strong, and its heat resistance far exceeds that of aluminum. Titanium's specific strength (the ratio of strength to density) is 3.5 times that of stainless steel, 1.3 times that of aluminum alloys, and 1.6 times that of magnesium alloys-the highest among all currently available metallic materials.

Titanium alloys can withstand temperatures of 400–500 degrees Celsius (in this regard, aluminum alloys and stainless steel fall far short; aluminum loses its original excellent properties at 150°C, and stainless steel at 310°C), as well as withstand temperatures of over 100°C below zero. Therefore, titanium and titanium alloys have become indispensable materials in the manufacture of modern weapons such as aircraft, firearms, and naval vessels.

The engines of modern supersonic jet aircraft, as well as the firewalls, frames, and canopies in the fuselage, are mostly made of titanium alloys. A single giant jet airliner contains over a million fasteners, with the amount of titanium used ranging from several tons to even dozens of tons. Some supersonic long-range interceptors use titanium for 95% of their structural components, earning them the nickname "titanium aircraft." These "titanium aircraft" are both sturdy and lightweight; a large titanium passenger jet can carry over 100 more passengers than a conventional aircraft of the same weight, and can reach speeds exceeding 3,000 kilometers per hour, whereas aluminum alloy aircraft can reach a maximum speed of only 2,400 kilometers per hour.

2. The "Sea Mosquito Dragon" Dives Deep into the Ocean: Titanium's corrosion resistance far surpasses that of stainless steel. At room temperature, titanium can remain unscathed when immersed in various strong acid and alkali solutions. Even the most potent acid-aqua regia-cannot harm it. Titanium's resistance to seawater is particularly remarkable, rivaling that of the renowned platinum: Someone once sank a titanium plate to the ocean floor; when retrieved five years later, it was covered with small marine animals and seaweed, yet showed not a trace of rust and remained as shiny as ever.

Because titanium is corrosion-resistant, it is frequently used in the chemical industry. In the past, components in chemical reactors containing hot nitric acid were made of stainless steel. However, even stainless steel is vulnerable to this potent corrosive agent-hot nitric acid-and these components had to be completely replaced every six months. While the components themselves were not expensive, the costs associated with each replacement and the losses incurred due to downtime far exceeded the price of the parts by many times. Now, although titanium is slightly more expensive than stainless steel, it can operate continuously for five years, making it far more cost-effective in the long run.

3. "Biocompatibility" Brings Harmony: Titanium has unique applications in medicine. The elastic modulus of titanium alloys is similar to that of human bone, making them highly compatible with the human body. Using titanium plates and screws to treat fractures yields unexpected results. When the broken bone is secured with titanium plates and screws, after a few months, the bone will grow onto the plates and into the threads of the screws, and new muscle tissue will envelop the plates. This "titanium bone" functions just like real bone. Furthermore, titanium alloy dental plates and teeth have been widely adopted in clinical practice, and artificial hearts, valves, and joints made from titanium alloys have all achieved excellent results in clinical applications.

4. "Shape-Memory Alloys" Possess Intelligence Titanium can also be combined with nickel to create "shape-memory alloys" with memory properties. Car bodies made from this special alloy can be restored to their original shape simply by rinsing them with hot water above 80°C after being deformed in a collision.

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