Titanium is one of the strongest metals in the periodic table. It has excellent resistance to salt, water, and heat. Because of its lightweight, it has become the material of choice for many industries. In addition, titanium has a low density and is thus easier to work with. There are several types of titanium alloys, Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) is the most widely used titanium alloy grade, and other grades have found their application in the industrial fields, the difference between these types of titanium alloys lies in their strength. This article discusses the advantages of titanium and its properties. You may also want to read about some of its disadvantages and uses. Listed below are a few of the biggest benefits of titanium. To find out how it is used in construction and industry, keep reading!
High Strength
High strength to weight ratio and corrosion resistance are some of the properties that make titanium alloys attractive. The density of titanium alloys is usually about 4.51g/cm3, only 60% of that of steel. The strength ratio (strength/density) of titanium alloy allows the production of parts with high unit strength and lightweight. For example, the most commonly used Gr5 alloy has a specific strength of > 200MPa (g/cm3), which is higher than other industrial pure metals and is a good material for the manufacture of load-bearing structural parts. Titanium alloy car parts can not only reduce the mass of the car but also reduce the motion inertia. Titanium alloy is used for engine parts, skeleton, skin, fasteners and landing gear.
Good Heat Resistance
Due to its high thermal strength, titanium alloy pipes can work in environments as hot as 450℃ ~ 650℃ for a long time, Gr5 alloy tensile strength can reach 620MPa at 400℃, is used to manufacture part of the aerospace high-temperature structural parts. Compared with aluminum alloy, which is also a “space metal”, titanium alloy can still maintain the required strength at moderate temperature, while aluminum alloy decreases significantly at 150℃.
Good Corrosion Resistance
One of the biggest advantages of titanium is that it is non-corrosive. The metal is not affected by high temperatures, and this makes it ideal for oil-field equipment. Titanium alloys are particularly resistant to pitting, acid, and stress corrosion, and it has excellent resistance to alkali, chloride, chlorinated organics, nitric acid and sulfuric acid. The corrosion resistance of titanium and titanium alloy is better than aluminum and magnesium, and even better than stainless steel in some environments. It is a good material for the corrosion of high-temperature exhaust gas containing hydrogen sulfide, is an ideal material for the manufacture of petrochemical pipelines, vehicle exhaust tubing and so on.
Good Biocompatibility
Titanium and its alloys are the most widely used for biomedical implants, they are expected to have excellent biomechanical properties which are comparable to the human body and animal autogenous tissues without side effects. This property is because Titanium has a low electrical conductivity, high strength& low weight and resistance to corrosion from the body.
But we know that titanium also has some “disadvantages” compared to other metals. First, titanium is difficult to extract because it combines with oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and many other elements at high temperatures, making it a “rare metal”. Due to the reactivity of titanium, it must be treated differently during all stages of production. It is susceptible to impurities and is expensive, which means it will cost you more. But if you want a durable product, then you must be prepared to spend more. This is one of the most attractive features of titanium. In addition, titanium alloy has poor weldability and machining performance is easy to absorb hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and other impurities in the cutting condition, those disadvantages make them mostly used in aircraft structure, aircraft, and petroleum and chemical industry and other industries. A new generation of fighter aircraft known as the F-22 Raptor is a perfect example. It will contain 42% titanium in its structural structure, with almost two-thirds of the aft fuselage being titanium.