Titanium: From Talismanic Presence To Ubiquitous “universal Metal”

All along, "titanium" seems to be a kind of "magic weapon" like existence, as long as with the "titanium" three words, often can be sold several times higher than similar products, even a titanium alloy insulation cup can easily be thousands of dollars. A titanium alloy insulation cup can easily be thousands of dollars.
With the "titanium metal" with the word of the product range is also very wide, as small as a cell phone, a thermos; large aircraft, submarines ......
What exactly is "titanium"? Why do people like to use it to make products? Why is its price so high? Next, let us come together to understand.
"Titanium can do anything!
At present, titanium is widely used in various fields, play an important role in production and life. It is often alloyed with other metals, such as aluminum, vanadium, copper, magnesium, molybdenum and so on. Next, let's take a look at the "great power" of titanium, in fact, what will appear in the place it!
Aerospace
Titanium alloy has high heat resistance, good corrosion resistance, strength and steel, but the density of titanium alloy is smaller than the strength of steel with similar light nearly half, commonly used in rockets in the rocket engine casing, rocket nozzle casing, the shell of artificial satellites, as well as manned spaceships cabin and so on.
Biomedical
Titanium alloy has the advantages of high strength, corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance, and mechanical properties close to human bone. Not only that, titanium alloy is the only metal that does not affect the human vegetative nerve and taste nerve, therefore, titanium alloy is widely used in the medical field, including the manufacture of implanted medical devices, prosthesis or artificial organs.
Industrial Manufacturing
Titanium is also popular in industrial production, such as intake valves, exhaust valves, retaining rings, wheel bushings and bearings and other automotive parts, are not without titanium, in addition to the military industry, tanks, missiles, as small as sprinting spikes, kitchen utensils ...... also have the existence of titanium elements.
Why is titanium so expensive?
At the beginning of the article we mentioned that all products associated with "titanium", the price is often several times higher than other materials, which is why? As the saying goes, "Rare things are expensive". Is titanium so expensive because it is exceptionally rare? The fact is not so, titanium element in the earth's crust in the content of up to six thousandths of the earth's crust, is the content of the earth's crust in the 10th ranked element, the reserves are 61 times the metal copper. So, what exactly is the reason for the high price of titanium products?
High mining difficulty
Although the content of titanium in the earth is very rich, but its distribution is more dispersed, which greatly improves the difficulty of mining titanium ore and mining costs.
In China, for example, China's titanium ore resources concentration is low, and is currently mostly private mining, difficult to form a large-scale development and utilization. At the same time, part of the coastal areas of the titanium ore contains radioactive elements, further increasing the difficulty of mining.

Processing difficulties
Titanium ore refining can be used as raw material for processing titanium sponge, and then to the molding of the plate, you need to go through dozens of procedures, as well as more than two times of melting, a variety of complex steps, but also on the melting speed, composition, current and voltage and other conditions require extremely high, increasing the processing difficulty.
In addition, due to the soft texture of pure titanium, the nature of active, and air contact, the surface will soon form a passivation layer of low thermal conductivity, therefore, titanium refining and melting needs to be carried out in a vacuum or inert gas environment, the machining process, as well as the welding technology of the requirements of the very high.
Strong demand
With the continuous progress of science and technology, titanium products are gradually entering our lives. Titanium material with its lightweight, corrosion-resistant and other characteristics, has become the material of choice for all walks of life. It not only changes the weight and performance of traditional products, but also injects more convenience and comfort into our lives.
In the outdoor field, titanium products are increasingly widely used. Titanium cutlery is a must-have for outdoor enthusiasts. It is not only lightweight and easy to carry, but also has excellent corrosion resistance and can withstand harsh environmental conditions. Titanium kettles and stoves are also popular, as they are not only lightweight and durable, but also provide a fast and efficient cooking experience, making outdoor life more convenient and comfortable.
In the field of sports, titanium products are gradually becoming the new favorite of sports enthusiasts. Titanium bike racks have become the target of cycling enthusiasts for their lightweight and sturdy characteristics. It can not only reduce the burden of cycling and improve cycling efficiency, but also has excellent corrosion resistance and extends the service life of the frame. In addition, titanium golf clubs, tennis rackets and other products are also loved by sports enthusiasts, they not only have excellent performance, but also provide a better hitting experience, so that the movement is more enjoyable and exciting.