Titanium - Processing and Uses
Titanium is a chemical element abbreviated with the chemical symbol Ti. It has a lustrous silvery grey-white metallic appearance and it is corrosion resistant. Titanium has a low density about 60% that of Iron and a high melting point of 3135'F. It was discovered by William Gregor in 1791 and named after the Titans of Greek mythology by Martin Heinrich Klaproth in Cornwall, Great Britain. It is also the 10th most occurring element on the surface of the earth. This metal is extracted from its principal ores through the Kroll or Hunter process.Processing of titanium metal is done in four stages. First the titanium ore is reduced into a porous form to form something like a sponge. From there, the sponge is melted to form an ingot. It then undergoes primary fabrication whereby the ingot is converted into plates, bars, billets, strips or tubes and other general mill products. The final stage is the secondary fabrication stage. In this stage the general mill products are converted into finished shapes. Since it reacts with oxygen at high temperatures, it can not be produced by reduction of its dioxide. In order to shield titanium from contamination with atmospheric gases, its fabrication or welding is done in an inert atmosphere of argon or helium. To solder this metal, you must first plate it with a metal that is solderable.
Due to its corrosion resistance, it used to make plane propeller shafts. This metal is also used in heater-chillers for salt water aquariums. Titanium is mostly preferred over steel in high performance model sailplane wing join rods because of its strength. Its most common compound titanium dioxide is a photocatalyst used in the manufacture of white pigments. Titanium tetrachloride is also its compound used as an iridized coating for glass. In medicine, titanium is used to make knee and hip replacements, dental implants, surgical instruments, wheel chairs, crutches, pace-makers, bone plates and cranial plates for skull fractures.
Other uses of titanium alloys include eyeglass frames, golf clubs, tennis rackets, cricket helmets and bicycle frames. The body of laptops can also be made from titanium. Guns are also made from this metal because of its light weight and strength. Because of its resilience, it is used for making designer jewelry. Its inertness makes it an ideal choice for people with allergies as it does not react with other things. You can also wear titanium jewelry when swimming.
There is no known biological use for titanium in our bodies but there is a small amount of the element in our bodies.It is estimated that we take in about 0.8 mg of titanium per day. The metal is not poisonous and our bodies can tolerate it in large amounts. But, titanium dust inhalation can cause tightness and pain in the chest accompanied by coughing and difficulty in breathing. Also if the dust comes into contact with your skin or eyes it may cause irritation. As a powder or in metal shavings form, titanium poses a great fire hazard and when heated in air it can cause explosions.
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