(Chemical Symbol: Ti). A lustrous white metal of the tin group occurring naturally as titanium oxide or in other oxide forms. The free element is precipitated by heating the oxide with aluminum or by the electrolysis of the solution in calcium chloride. Atomic weight, 48.1; melting point, 1668°C (3034°F); boiling point, 3260°C (5900°F); specific gravity, 4.5; density 4.51g/cm3. Titanium is highly resistant to corrosion, has high-temperature stability, and is used in alloys to achieve excellent strength-to-weight ratios. These properties have led to its widespread use in the chemical, aerospace, marine, and medical fields. Among recent applications for titanium alloys are in the petro-chemical industry and in sports equipment manufacturing.

Titanium is used as a stabilizer in stainless steel to prevent precipitation of carbon during welding. It has been used for rimmed steels, performing a valuable function in distributing sulphur in high-sulphur steels. Titanium has a strong chemical affinity for oxygen, and forms a tight microscopic oxide film on freshly prepared surfaces at room temperature (similar to magnesium and aluminum). The oxide film makes titanium passive to further reactivity. This passivity accounts, in part, for its excellent corrosion resistance to aqueous salt or oxidizing acid solutions, and acceptable corrosion resistance to mineral acids.

 

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