Titanium
Titanium and Uses
Titanium feedstocks are defined by their titanium dioxide (TiO2) content, with the higher the content, the more valuable the product.
The key titanium feedstocks
- Rutile 95 – 95% TiO2
- Leucoxene 65 – 90% TiO2
- Ilmenite 45 – 65% TiO2
The two primary uses
- Titanium dioxide is used in our everyday lives, in paints and varnishes, 3D printing, printing inks, plastics, rubber, linoleum, artificial fibres, paper, glass, enamel, ceramics and many other day-to-day products.
- Titanium alloys are in high demand globally and are critical for the production of aircraft (both in the airframe and jet engines), rocket components and numerous space applications.
Titanium metal is increasingly used in advanced engineering applications, medical devices (including rods, pins, plates, and dental materials), EV motor components, spectacle frames, jewellery, bicycle frames, and sporting goods. Its general inertness makes it suitable for prosthetic surgery, including hip replacements, spinal implants, dentistry, and pacemakers.
Characteristics
Titanium
Aircraft engines and airframes, military equipment, chemical processing and desalination plants, medical and sporting equipment.
- High strength to weight ratio
- Stronger than steel but 45% lighter, twice the strength of aluminium which provides an important fuel efficiency benefit in aerospace applications
- Corrosion resistant
- Forms and inert protective oxide coating self-repairs when mechanically damaged
Nanomaterials
Dye-sensitive solar cells, arsenic removal in water treatment cancer treatment and noise absorption.
- Nanoparticles
- Significant research into nanotechnology shows promising new applications for titanium dioxide
- Key component in Sun screening products
Pigment
Paints and coatings, plastic/paper.
- Opaque, white and bright high refractive index (refracts * reflects white light) UV protection
- Absorbs UV light energy (transfers to heat) – prevents fading, peeling and cracking
- Non-toxic
- Safe for use in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals
Welding flux agent
Ship building and fabrication.
Titanium is a key requirement in the manufacture of welding wire and welding stick consumables.
