What is Titanium?

Titanium: A Chemical Element

Titanium is a chemical element discovered by British geologist William Gregor in Cornwall in 1791. It was named after the Titans from Greek mythology because of its natural strength.

As strong as some steels, titanium is less dense, so it weighs about half as much.

This lustrous, corrosion-resistant metal is found in almost all living things, in natural bodies of water, in most igneous rocks, and in some soils.

The mineral ilmenite is the primary ore of titanium, followed by rutile and a small number of other minerals. It can also be found in meteorites and the sun.

The ninth most abundant element in Earth's crust, titanium is combined with other metals to form a strong, lightweight, corrosion-resistant alloy. 

Titanium is used in applications where strength, low weight and resistance to heat are important. It's widely used in aviation, aerospace, and for many medical and dental implants. It causes no harm to the human body.

These characteristics make it ideal to use for replacement body parts. The only drawback is that titanium is expensive because it's difficult and time-consuming to extract from its ore. 

Australia, South Africa and China are the world's largest producers.

The majority of titanium is processed for use as titanium dioxide. This important pigment with bright white colour is resistant to fading. It adds brightness and opacity to a wide variety of products.

Titanium dioxide improves the whiteness of paper, is used in toothpaste, pharmaceuticals, particularly tablets, white paint, and sunscreen.

The brightness of titanium dioxide reflects and scatters light. It also absorbs UV light, which protects the skin. It's used in food colourings, ceramics, and textiles because it brightens and in cosmetics because, being opaque, it covers unwanted marks and blemishes.

Article Photos

Titanium: Courtesy of Stan Celestian.

Pop-up photo:
Ilmenite: Courtesy of Ron Wolf