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Titanium

physical science Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Titanium is a special chemical element with the symbol Ti. It is a silver-colored metal that is very strong but also very light.

Titanium metal
Titanium metal

This combination of traits makes it very useful for building things. It can resist corrosion, which means it does not rust easily. Even in sea water or harsh chemicals, it stays protected.

Titanium products
Titanium products

Because it is so tough and light, it is used in many important machines.

To understand how it works, we can look at its surface. When titanium touches air, it immediately forms a very thin layer. This layer is called a passivation layer.

Titanium metal
Titanium metal

It is only a few nanometers thick at first. This tiny shield stops the rest of the metal from breaking down. It grows slowly over many years to keep the metal safe. This is why titanium can survive in salty ocean water for a long time.

People discovered this metal a long time ago. William Gregor found it in Cornwall, Great Britain, in 1791.

Martin Heinrich Klaproth
Martin Heinrich Klaproth

Later, a scientist named Martin Heinrich Klaproth gave it its name. He chose the name after the Titans from Greek mythology. Today, we know it is the ninth most common element in the Earth's crust.

TitaniumUSGOV
TitaniumUSGOV

It is found in many rocks, soils, and even in the ocean.

Titanium is used in many different ways today. Scientists extract the metal from minerals like rutile and ilmenite.

TitaniumUSGOV
TitaniumUSGOV

They often use the Kroll or Hunter processes to get the pure metal. Once they have it, they can make alloys by mixing it with other metals like aluminum or iron. Some of these mixes are incredibly strong. For example, certain alloys can reach a strength of over 1,400 MPa.

Titanzylinder
Titanzylinder

This strength helps it work in jet engines and spacecraft.

You might see titanium in places you would not expect. It is used in medical tools like dental implants because it is biocompatible.

Titanium plaatje voor pols
Titanium plaatje voor pols

This means the human body accepts it very well. It is also used to make sporting goods and even jewelry. Some tools, like drill bits, get a special coating called titanium nitride.

Titanium nitride coating
Titanium nitride coating

This coating is very hard and even looks gold. It helps the tools last much longer when they are working.

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🖼️ Images & Media (16)
File:Titanium in water Pourbaix diagram.png
Titanium in water Pourbaix diagram.png
File:Titanium nitride coating.jpg
Titanium nitride coating.jpg
File:TiCl3.jpg
TiCl3.jpg
File:Martin Heinrich Klaproth.jpg
Martin Heinrich Klaproth.jpg
File:Titanium metal.jpg
Titanium metal.jpg
File:TitaniumUSGOV.jpg
TitaniumUSGOV.jpg
File:Sample of Titanium tetrachloride 01.jpg
Sample of Titanium tetrachloride 01.jpg
File:Titanium products.jpg
Titanium products.jpg
File:Titanzylinder.jpg
Titanzylinder.jpg
File:Titanium-dioxide-sample.jpg
Titanium-dioxide-sample.jpg
File:A12-flying.jpg
A12-flying.jpg
File:Tweeter with Titanium membrane of loudspeaker box JBL TI 5000, 1990s.jpg
Tweeter with Titanium membrane of...

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