When you hear the word “Titanium”, what do you think of? The tech-minded might think of spacecrafts; soldiers will be reminded of military equipment or tree stands for hunting; for car buffs it might be any number of automotive applications; sports enthusiasts might think of golf clubs or tennis rackets; jewelers could make exquisite diamond earrings out of it. No matter your preference, Titanium’s uses are expanding as it quickly becomes the preferred replacement for steel and aluminum.
What makes this metal so attractive is its strength, weight, and resistance to corrosion. It is as strong as steel, only slightly heavier than aluminum, and is not prone to corrosion even when exposed to sea water or chlorine. For these reasons it has been used widely in aerospace and military applications for the last twenty-five years but now, as extraction becomes less expensive, this space-age metal is showing up in a lot of ordinary, every-day places.
Builders of both homes and commercial buildings have long had to deal with the effects of temperature changes and moisture in aluminum-based heating and cooling equipment. Over time, aluminum units get rusty and beat up; they become less efficient and aesthetically poor; simply put, they are not up to the long-term task. Titanium units on the other hand, outlast and out-perform their counterparts in almost every case.
In the world of home and commercial security, monitoring equipment is often sensitive to a variety of environmental variables, including magnetism. With aluminum or steel shielding, sensitive equipment can be protected from weather and impact damage, but with Titanium shielding comes the added benefit of protection against damage by magnetic fields.
Titanium’s strength to weight ratio is causing manufacturers of electronics to give it serious consideration. From durable laptop computers to audio-visual equipment, marine electronics, and medical devices, Titanium is on the move. In the kitchen the metal is being used for commercial-grade appliances and work spaces. One of the world’s most well-known coffee distributors has even introduced a Titanium espresso maker!
Perhaps the most fascinating use of this metal to date is in medical and dental applications. Titanium is known as a biocompatible substance, meaning it is non-toxic and normally not rejected by the human body. These properties have opened the door to joint replacements and surgical implants that can last for twenty to thirty years. Osseointegration is another Titanium property which allows human bone and tissue to integrate with the metal, making it ideal for dental implants which depend on strength and stability.
So next time you hear someone speak of Titanium, remember it’s not just for space shuttles any more.
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