William Gregor in 1791, who was interested in minerals, discovered titanium. Herecognized the presence of a new element, now known as titanium, in menachanite,a mineral named after Menaccan in Cornwall (England). Several years later, theelement was rediscovered in the ore rutile by a German chemist, Klaproth. Thepure elemental metal was not made until 1910 by Matthew A. Hunter, who heatedTiCl4 together with sodium in a steel bomb at 700-800?C.
Titanium is used foralloys with aluminum, molybdenum, manganese, iron, and other metals. Thesealloys of titanium are used principally in the aerospace industry, for bothairframes and engines, where lightweight strength and ability to withstandextremes of temperature are important. Titanium is as strong as steel, but muchlighter. It is twice as strong as aluminum. It is nearly as resistant tocorrosion as platinum.
Titanium is a component of joint replacement parts,including hip ball and sockets. It has excellent resistance to seawater and isused for propeller shafts, rigging, and other parts of ships exposed to saltwater. A titanium anode coated with platinum provides cathodic protection fromcorrosion by salt water. Titanium paint is an excellent reflector of infraredradiation, and is extensively used in solar observatories where heat causes poorviewing conditions. Pure titanium dioxide is relatively clear and has anextremely high index of refraction with an optical dispersion higher thandiamond. It is produced artificially for use as a gemstone, but it is relativelysoft.
Star sapphires and rubies exhibit their asterism as a result of thepresence of TiO2. The dioxide is used extensively for paint as it is permanentand has good covering power. Titanium oxide pigment accounts for the largest useof the element. Titanium, symbol Ti, silver-white metallic element with anatomic number of 22 and an atomic weight of 47. 9.
Titanium is one of thetransition elements of the periodic table. Pure titanium metal is extremelybrittle when cold but malleable and ductile at a low red heat. Titanium is neverfound in the pure state. Because of its strength and light weight, titanium isused in alloys and as a substitute for aluminum. Alloyed with aluminum andvanadium, titanium is used in aircraft for fire walls, outer skin, landing-gearcomponents, hydraulic tubing, and engine supports.
Titanium is also widely usedin missiles and space capsules. The Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo capsules werelargely made of titanium. The chemical inertness of titanium makes it suitableas a replacement for bone and cartilage in surgery and as a pipe and tank liningin food processing. It is used in desalinization plants because of its abilityto withstand saltwater corrosion. Titanium dioxide, known as titanium white, isa brilliant white pigment used in paints, lacquers, plastics, paper, textiles,and rubber.
Pure titanium is soluble in concentrated acids, such as sulfuric andhydrofluoric acids, and insoluble in water. The metal is extremely brittle whencold, but is readily malleable and ductile at a low red heat. Titanium melts atabout 1660? C (about 3020? F), boils at about 3287? C (about 5949? F), andhas a specific gravity of 4. 5. The atomic weight of titanium is 47.
88.
