What is titanium?

aikiman44

Enlightened
Joined
Dec 19, 2006
Messages
473
Location
New York
Got this from the Tighe custom pen site, and I liked it:

What is Titanium?
"Titanium is an element (symbol Ti) like gold, silver and platinum. Its atomic number is 22, with atomic weight of 47.9, an electron configuration of 2-8-10-2, and a specific gravity of 4.5. Titanium has a melting point of 3020 F (1660C) and a boiling point of 5949 F (3287C).It is a silvery white non ferrous metal with the highest strength to weight ratio of any known element. For this reason titanium is the favored material in the aerospace industry. 85% of the structural components in the Space Shuttle are made of titanium.

The name titanium was derived from the Titans of Greek mythology, known for their extreme and superior strength. Titanium belongs to an elite category of elements known as refractory metals. One of the more outstanding characteristics of these materials lies in the refractive properties inherent to their oxides. Titanium is naturally platinum gray. By applying heat or electricity one may unleash its refractive properties, inducing various oxide thicknesses on the material surface. Titanium anodizing is best performed electrolytically. The resulting titanium oxide causes an optical interference with a purity and vivacity much the same as witnessed in the luminescent colors of oil on water, a peacock's feather, or a rainbow. These colors are not the results of dyes, but a natural oxide produced by the metal when stimulated.

Titanium has positively and diversely impacted mankind more than any single element in history. It is the element that took us to the depths of the ocean, the far reaches of the galaxy and elevated our capacities in medicine, industry and science.

Titanium is inert. The most bio-compatible element known to man, and therefore the material of preference in the medical world for surgical tools, implants, pacemaker cases, and other internal casings. It will not react to ANY chemistry other than Hydrofluoric acid. Pure titanium is 100% hypoallergenic. It won't react with the body or chemicals, making it a great choice for even those persons most sensitive to other materials. And, unlike silver, titanium will never tarnish!"
 
Here's some more info for you:​


On the downside, titanium isn't a great choice for a heatsink. The main reason titanium is so expensive is because the extraction process is complex and sacrifices another expensive metal, magnesium. But a newer extraction process will probably bring the cost of titanium down. Which could be a bad thing since flashlight makers might have one less exotic material to make special lights out of.
 
FrogsInWinter said:
....... But a newer extraction process will probably bring the cost of titanium down. Which could be a bad thing since flashlight makers might have one less exotic material to make special lights out of.

:thinking: :shrug: If Ti were free, Ti products would still be expensive.
 
yep...
I think only cobalt bits can drill titanium, i dunno...never drilled titanium before

not quite. you can drill Ti with HSS, using proper care.

coated carbide makes it easier.
 
Titanium does not have the highest strength to weight ratio of any element. Carbon nanotubes have a much higher ratio, and if you want to talk engineering materials in general, aromatic polyamide fibers like kevar have a much higher ratio also.

Titanium is not inert. If it were, it wouldn't form the oxides that were written about earlier in the text. Whoever wrote that doesn't seem to know how the periodic table works.

As far as Ti being the "most bio-compatible element known to man"... that one's just funny. How about Carbon? Maybe they meant metal, not element.

I'm not bashing here, I guess I am tired of people treating Ti like it's some wonder material. On it's best day, it's almost as strong as steel when it's extensively alloyed. On the other hand, I like it just as much as the next nerd (my wife and I have Ti wedding rings), but I don't need to make it something that it's not.
 
Since your not bashing niether am I but this made me wonder "Titanium does not have the highest strength to weight ratio of any element. Carbon nanotubes have a much higher ratio" while that may be true as an element in the raw state titanium takes the cake for highest strength-wieght ration, titanium is also not inert but niether is gold without adding energy niether gold nor titanium will change chemically. Titanium is quite a nice material although for brute strength steel has a higher strength to volume ration (titanium has the higher strength to weight ratio don't confuse the two identically sized pieces of steel and titanium and the steel will be stronger but heavier) I personally favor Tungsten's ultra high metling point and incredible alloy hardness. ALthough its rather heavy, and lastly titanium is very stiff compared to steel it cracks before it bends so it is a terrible material for spring typ edevices unless in certain low content alloys.
 
indycrucible said:
As far as Ti being the "most bio-compatible element known to man"... that one's just funny. How about Carbon? Maybe they meant metal, not element.
I think by "bio-compatible" they meant non-reactive.

My question is if we can get Ti with all the pretty oxide colors why don't we see more of it? I know Atwood does it. What about rainbow Ti flashlights?
 
Last edited:
Maybe I'm looking at this too absolutely...

Titanium is far from non-reactive. It is highly reactive. That is why it forms the tenacious oxides in it's surface very rapidly. After the oxide is formed on the surface, then the surface is non-reactive.

"...and lastly titanium is very stiff compared to steel..."
Ti is not as stiff as Steel, the vaunted wonder alloy Ti6Al4V's Modulus of Elasticity is half of a cheap steel like 1018. Ti is excellent for springs when properly heat treated, all of the new Yamaha MX bikes come with Ti shock springs stock. Because of Ti's low density and higher flexibility that steel, the performance of springs made from it is much better than steel springs.
 
indycrucible - the quoted article above said 'element' not compound. Kevlar is not an element. It sounds to me like you ARE bashing as you state you are 'tired of people treating Ti like it's some wonder material'. As far as it being the most bio-compatible element you have taken this out of context - they were referring to the most bio-compatible element available for making medical implants and tools - such as pins to hold bones together and for that it is the best thing available. Try doing that with carbon. Also your statement that it is highly reactive is misleading as it does not react with things in the environment like most other metals do. It doesn't rust and can be exposed to seawater with no problems and exposed to things that would destroy most other metal elements. I don't understand why there is always one or two people who want to get on a negative rant about Ti. Do people think they are going to drive the price of it down by putting it down? Everyone's entitled to their opinion and feelings about it but some of your statements seem to be comparing apples to oranges and some just are not accurate.
 
65535 said:
Sounds to me (from what I have heard) the Titanium colors are flakey and aren't too tough.
When Ti is anodized it is tougher than bare Ti and resists scratching. I've got a Titanium knife clip I made and anodized gold color. That knife is in my back pocket at ALL times and I spend quite a bit of time sitting with that clip rubbing up against leather and other materials. It's been on this knife over a year and still has most of the color on it. I've always wondered why those making lights in Ti don't anodize them to colors. If I ever get a Ti light or even bezel it's getting anodized.
 
matrixshaman said:
indycrucible - the quoted article above said 'element' not compound. Kevlar is not an element.
I said carbon nanotube which is an allotrope Carbon, Carbon is an element. I qualified my comment aboout Kevlar: "and if you want to talk engineering materials in general..."

As for bio-compatability, if we are now talking about Ti as an engineering material, then yes, it is an excellent material for implants, etc. Although it is typically used in highly alloyed forms.

matrixshaman said:
Also your statement that it is highly reactive is misleading as it does not react with things in the environment like most other metals do. It doesn't rust and can be exposed to seawater with no problems and exposed to things that would destroy most other metal elements.
Are we talking about engineering materials again here or elements? Elemental Ti is highly reactive with Oxygen. Ti as a eng. material has an oxide layer that protects it as you described.

matrixshaman said:
Everyone's entitled to their opinion and feelings about it but some of your statements seem to be comparing apples to oranges and some just are not accurate.
Everything I said is accurate. You talk about apples and oranges, but easily switch back and forth between Ti as an element, and Ti that can actually be made into something, i.e. an engineering material. Elemental Ti can only exist in a ultra-hard vacuum, not in a flashlight, knife, firearm, etc.

I'm not bashing Ti, nor is this a negative rant. I gave a specific example of where Ti alloys are superior to steel when discussing the spring. Identifying incorrect information is not negative, it's for the benefit of those interested in the subject. I look forward to Ti getting cheaper to refine and process, as it will greatly benefit the industry I work in, but I am not so nieve to think discussing it with fellow flashaholics will make any difference.

Let review:

Ti is not inert. One look at it's placement on the periodic table confirms this. http://www.webelements.com/
Ti has approximately half the stiffness of Steel. www.matweb.com
Ti does not have the highest strength to weight ratio of any element. The highest of any metal, but not any element. http://www.pa.msu.edu/cmp/csc/nanotube.html
 
Well I just lost a long post thanks to a server that was too busy! :mad:

I agree that Ti is overhyped and misunderstood by many. Still, it has some properties and combined aspects which make it a very good selection for many applications.

I get upset when one states general comparisons such as steel VS Ti! The alloys of each make a BIG difference and what is true of a specific alloy is not always the case in general.

There is one Ti alloy for instance that will prevail over all takers in its areas of superiority. Unfortunately this alloy is not presently formable or machinable to any great extent or useability. I refer to NITINOL. This would be the ultimate material for many tools and parts including a flashlight, IMHO. :)
 
Don,
If the server is too busy, you can usually just hit "back", and your post will be there - maybe it's because I use a Mac :nana:, but I've never lost a post or a PM... if I get "server too busy", I just back out, wait a minute, and resend.
:) john
 
[OT] John,
Going back works sometimes but others it doesn't. In this case, back brought me to a blank text box. :shrug: [/OT]
 
Top