[Love Science] I Know Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron And Other Metals, But This Is The First Time I Heard About Titanium. What Kind Of Metal Is It?

[Love Science] I know gold, silver, copper, iron and other metals [Love Science] I know gold, silver, copper, iron and other metals, but this is the first time I heard about titanium. What kind of metal is it? , but this is the first time I heard about titanium. What kind of metal is it?

What magic metal is titanium?

You may know that gold, silver, copper, iron, and titanium alloys are used in aerospace applications , but titanium is a relatively unfamiliar metal. Pure titanium is silvery white, and its melting point is as high as 1668 degrees Celsius. Its most outstanding characteristics are low density and high strength. The density is only 57% of steel, but the strength and hardness are roughly the same as steel. Compared with aluminum, although titanium is slightly denser, its mechanical strength is far better than aluminum. In short, Titanium combines the strength of steel with the lightness of aluminum.

Titanium with good plasticity, titanium with heat resistance and titanium with corrosion resistance. Due to this unique combination, titanium has been widely used in aircraft manufacturing since the 1950s, in rocket manufacturing, in missile manufacturing, and even in shipbuilding. Like the Boeing 787 passenger aircraft, its fuselage structure uses a large amount of titanium alloy, which not only achieves the effect of reducing weight but also ensures strength. In the fields involved in aerospace, titanium has become a key material.

Titanium dioxide makes the world whiter

Titanium oxide is a relatively white powder, which is what we often call "titanium dioxide". Its whiteness is so amazing that one gram of titanium dioxide can whiten a wall of 450 square centimeters, which is equivalent to the area of ​​a piece of A4 paper. Therefore, the paint and paint industry is inseparable from it. If the walls of your home are painted extremely white, it is very likely that there is titanium dioxide in them.

Titanium dioxide can be used in papermaking and plastics. When it is added to paper pulp as a filler, the paper produced is both white and opaque, and the printing effect is excellent. In addition, titanium dioxide can be found in rubber, cosmetics and even food. It can be said that titanium dioxide is the most common titanium product in our daily life, but you may not necessarily know its existence.

The wonderful relationship between artificial fog and electricity

Titanium tetrachloride, a titanium chloride with unique properties, forms smoke in the air, and the smoke can last for a long time. This smoke is called "artificial fog." It is often used in the military to create smoke screens to obscure the enemy's sight. In titanium alloy processing aerospace applications during exercises or emergencies, artificial fog can be formed quickly to provide cover.

What is even more amazing is barium titanate. When pressure is applied to it, it will generate an electric current, and when it is energized, it will change its shape. Scientists use this characteristic to place barium titanate in ultrasonic waves. The pressure generated by the ultrasonic waves causes it to generate electric current. On the contrary, after energizing it, it will generate ultrasonic waves. Ocean detectors made of barium titanate can detect underwater fish schools, reefs and enemy submarines. This technology is of great significance in the military and fishery fields.

The discovery of titanium took more than 100 years

In 1795, the German chemist Klaplot discovered a new element in a red ore. He named it after the "Titans" in Greek mythology, which translates to "titanium" in Chinese. However, what was found at that time was not actually titanium metal, but powdered titanium dioxide. Even though scientists knew that this element existed, they were unable to extract the pure metal.

In the 1810s, American chemist Hunter successfully produced titanium metal for the first time. Its purity was as high as 99.9%, but the total amount was less than 1 gram. From the discovery of titanium in 1795 to the acquisition of titanium metal in 1910, it took more than 100 years. At present, the extraction and processing technology of titanium is mature, but the cost is still high, and it is mainly used in high-end fields.

NiTi alloy has memory

In 1961, researchers in the United States accidentally discovered an extremely miraculous and peculiar phenomenon. That is, the nickel-titanium alloy wire that had been straightened immediately returned to its original curved shape when it gradually approached the fire. After many repeated experiments, we were finally able to confirm 100% that this strange phenomenon can be repeated repeatedly. Scientists have named this unique characteristic the shape memory effect. To put it simply, metal can remember its original shape.

The memory effect of nickel-titanium alloy has a wide range of uses. In aerospace vehicles, it can be used to create automatically unfolding antennas or structural parts. In the field of integrated circuits, it can be used as micro-switches. In the medical field, nickel-titanium alloy stents can be implanted into human blood vessels, and body temperature will cause it to automatically expand to support blood vessels. This "smart" metal is changing many industries.

Titanium will become the third largest metal in the future

Titanium will become the third largest metal in the future after copper and iron. This is predicted by experts. Copper and iron have been used for thousands of years, but titanium has only been used on a large scale for a few decades. Its potential is huge. In the aerospace field, titanium alloy processing technology is always in a state of continuous progress. The C919 large aircraft uses a large number of titanium alloy parts, and the rocket engine also uses a large number of titanium alloy parts. This can not only reduce weight, but also improve performance.

In daily life, titanium products are becoming more and more common. Titanium alloy glasses frames are lightweight and not prone to allergies. Titanium kettle, strong and durable. As for titanium cookware, it conducts heat evenly and has no coating. With the advancement of mining and smelting technology, the price of titanium is on the decline. Titanium alloy processing aerospace applications , its application scope will become more and more extensive. Perhaps in a few decades, titanium will become a basic industrial material like steel and aluminum.

In daily life, have you ever noticed the titanium products around you? For example, titanium alloy eyeglass frames or titanium water bottles. Why not leave your thoughts, share your feelings when using them, like them and forward them, so that more people can see this wonderful metal!