SPECIALTY METALS AND ALLOYS
TITANIUM
"Titanium is an exceptionally strong, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant metal. By combining it with other metals, it is possible to obtain a wide range of alloys, each with unique properties that offer a broad spectrum of application possibilities. There are about 30 types of titanium alloys, although in 90% of industrial applications, mainly grade 2 titanium and grade 5 titanium alloy (5Al-4V) are used.
Titanium alloys can be divided into five main categories:
Commercially Pure Titanium: This type has a composition of more than 99% titanium.
Titanium with Increased Corrosion Resistance: This group incorporates small amounts of palladium and rutile, improving its corrosion resistance.
Alpha Alloys: These alloys offer improved mechanical properties compared to pure titanium.
Alpha-Beta Alloys: They stand out for their high mechanical strength.
Beta Alloys: They have high mechanical strength but limited weldability.
Pure titanium (grades 1 to 4) has low strength and high ductility characteristics. However, through the appropriate addition of other elements, it is transformed into an engineering material with high strength and stiffness, good ductility, corrosion resistance, and a lower density than most structural metals.
Common uses of Titanium: aerospace components, medical implants, structural elements in the automotive industry, oil well drilling tools, submarines, yachts, high-end bicycles, golf clubs, and numerous high-strength and lightweight components in the automotive industry."