All-Purpose Metal- Titanium

Titanium (Ti) was discovered in 1789. It was successfully refined to a pure metal over 100 years after it was first discovered. It has been 1940’s of the 20th century when people actually knew how it was and where to use it. The strength of pure Titanium and Titanium alloy is 2.3 times and 3.8 times the strength of low carbon steel respectively, and is also 1.8 times and 3 times the strength of stainless steel. Titanium is a light but strong metallic material, widely used in aerospace, marine, chemical, and medical applications.

Titanium is also used in general industrial and commodity applications, for example, high-class bikes, golf clubs, high-end eyeglass frames. It is sometimes called “all-purpose metal” or “third metal”.

A kind of Titanium alloy has a feature of “remembering its shape”. If the sheet metal of cars is made of this material, when it is collided to be flat, it can still look intact by pouring hot water on it. This amazing feature makes it an irreplaceable metallic material used in special engineering, astronavigation, and medical applications. In addition, when the temperature is close to “absolute zero”, the electric resistance of Titanium will also become zero. Cables made of this material will not generate high temperature if connected to a high-amp current. As there is energy consumption, it can be thus used as the best material for electricity conduction.

Titanium is not only high-temperature resistant, but also low-temperature resistant. At approximately 500℃, Titanium alloy shows a good mechanical property. Under the temperature of -196℃ to -253℃, it has better malleability and elasticity, which is especially fit with the requirement of materials used for the outer space environment (also called “outer space metal”). Titanium without magnetism and toxics will not be magnetized even in the intense magnetic field. Outer cases of ships built with Titanium can withstand the explosion of magnetic torpedos. As Titanium is not toxic and can be compatible to human bodies and blood, many artificial bones and heart pacemakers made of Titanium are widely used and will not be influenced by the magnetic field, so it is also called as “Bio-metal”.