Many companies and manufacturing plants these days make use of titanium and titanium alloys in many levels of their processes and applications. They utilize the properties of this specific metal in making sure that they are producing good quality consumer goods and services. What exactly is titanium and what causes it a popular choice among companies?

Titanium is a chemical element that has the symbol Ti. It is regarded to have a low density, great luster, and great toughness to rust. It is silver in color and has an atomic number of 22.

Like several other metals, titanium can be utilized to make alloys with many other metals like molybdenum, iron, vanadium and aluminum. This is performed to create lightweight but durable alloys to be employed in army, aerospace and industrial applications. Missiles, jet engines, spaceship, desalination plants, paper and pulp are the best known finished goods of titanium alloys.

In a smaller scale, it can also be used in the food, agriculture, and medical fields. Dental implants, orthopedic implants, prostheses, endodontic instruments, and other medical devices are often made of titanium and its alloys. Even simple accessories and appliances like jewelry, sporting goods and cell phones make use of this element.

When we speak of titanium alloys, we are talking about a mixture that caused from combining titanium with other chemical elements. They are separated into four general classifications.

1. Alpha alloys - these are a combination of alpha additives (like aluminum and oxygen) and any neutral alloying substances like tin.

2. Near-alpha alloys - these kinds contain a small trace of pliable beta-phase (like silicon, vanadium, or molybdenum), included with alpha-phase stabilizers.

3. Alpha and Beta alloys - these are metastable and are a mixture of beta stabilizers and alpha stabilizers.

4. Beta Alloys - these are also metastable and have enough amounts of beta stabilizers (like vanadium, silicon and molybdenum) that enable them to keep in their beta phase even when quenched.

Titanium alloys include many properties. Titanium in the alpha-phase is normally more powerful than titanium in beta-phase. However, the former is less ductile than the latter. If we evaluate the titanium metal alone, it is as durable, strong and stable as steel, but about half as light. When compared to aluminum, it is more than half as heavy but two times as sturdy. It also has good corrosion resistance, especially to water, that is why it is frequently used in the manufacture of boat parts.