Titanium science

Once considered expensive because of its purchase value, titanium is increasingly considered economical in operating costs. The key to success for its profitability lies to the maximum in the use of its unique properties and characteristics from the design stage.The fields of aeronautics and aerospace are the first of the historical applications of titanium. Titanium constitutes 6 to 9% of the weight of aircraft, especially engine components: compressor discs, compressor blades, structural housings, fan housing, fan blades, etc., the maximum operating temperature being limited to 600°C.

The chemical sector is the second sector of activity in which titanium is present. Titanium tubes are found in many condensers, where their resistance to corrosion and abrasion allows high service life. In the biomedical sector, there is currently feedback from about 50 years of use since the first titanium dental implant was placed in 1964. Its use has developed because of its biocompatible and mechanocompatible nature. Unlike steel, any titanium tool debris that may remain in the body will not cause postoperative infection because of its biocompatibility. In the military industry, the most spectacular use is the construction of several nuclear submarines by the Russians, such as the Alfa class, whose entire hull is made of titanium. Titanium is also used in the secondary circuits of nuclear reactors to minimize the number of unit outages that are extremely costly. In the optical field, titanium is used to produce high-end spectacle frames, for which it offers an ideal combination of strength, flexibility and extreme lightness, in addition to its bio-inerte aspect. A new application sector seems to be the automotive industry. What is being sought is the lightening of structures to reduce both engine emissions and noise.