About the components, history, etc. of titanium

Essay by joy_joy12387High School, 10th gradeA-, March 2003

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What is Titanium?

The Reverend William Gregor in 1791, who was interested in minerals, discovered titanium. He recognized the presence of a new element, now known as titanium. He noticed it in menachanite, a mineral named after Menaccan in Cornwall (England). Several years later, the element was rediscovered by a German chemist, Klaproth. The pure elemental metal was not made until 1910 by Matthew A. Hunter. He then heated TiCl4 together with sodium in a steel bomb at 700-800°C. Titanium is used for alloys with aluminum, molybdenum, manganese, iron, and other metals. These alloys of titanium are used mostly in the aerospace industry, for both airframes and engines, where lightweight strength and ability to withstand extremes of temperature are important. Titanium is as strong as steel, but much lighter. It is twice as strong as aluminum. It is nearly as resistant to rust as platinum. Titanium is a component of joint replacement parts, including hip ball and sockets.

It has excellent resistance to seawater and is used for propeller shafts, rigging, and other parts of ships exposed to salt water. A titanium anode coated with platinum provides cathodic protection from decomposition by salt water. Titanium paint is an excellent reflector of infrared radiation, and is extensively used in solar observatories where heat causes poor viewing conditions. Pure titanium dioxide is relatively clear and has an extremely high index of refraction with a visual thinning out higher than diamond. It is produced artificially for use as a gemstone, but it is relatively soft. Star sapphires and rubies show their asterism as a result of the presence of TiO2. The dioxide is used mostly for paint because it's permanent and has good covering power. Titanium oxide pigment accounts for the largest use of the element. Titanium, symbol Ti, silver-white metallic element...