Chemical Fact Sheet
Titanium
| Chemical Abstract Number (CAS #) | 7440-32-6 |
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| Synonyms | 75A; ALPHA-VT-1-0; ATI-24; CONTIMET-30; CP-TITANIUM; EMO-140; IMI-115; IMI-130; IMI-125 ; JISTP28; SMELLOFF-CUTTER TITANIUM; T-40; T-60; TI-40; TI-40A; TI-50A; TI-75A; TI60; TITAN VT 1-1; TITANIUM- (DRYPOWDER); TITANIUM-50A; TITANIUM A-40; TITANIUM-METAL-POWDER,DRY; TITANIUM-VT1; TITANIUM-125; VT-1; VT-1-L; VT 1-0; VT 1-1; VT 1-2; VT-1D; VT-1L; VTL-0 |
| Analytical Methods | 200.8 - 6020 |
| Molecular Formula | Ti |
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Synopsis
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Titanium - (L. Titans, the first sons of the Earth, myth.), Ti; at. wt. 47.867(l); at. no. 22; m.p. 1668 +/- 10 deg C; b.p. 3287 deg C; sp. gr. 4.54; valence 2, 3, or 4. Discovered by Gregor in 1791; named by Klaproth in 1795. Impure titanium was prepared by Nilson and Pettersson in 1887; however, the pure metal (99.9%) was not made until 1910 by Hunter by heating TiCl4 with sodium in a steel bomb. Titanium is present in meteorites and in the sun. Rocks obtained during the Apollo 17 lunar mission showed presence of 12.1% TiO2. Analyses of rocks obtained during earlier Apollo missions show lower percentages. Titanium oxide bands are prominent in the spectra of M-type stars. The element is the ninth most abundant in the crust of the earth. Titanium is almost always present in igneous rocks and in the sediments derived from them. It occurs in the minerals rutile, ilmenite, and sphene, and is present in titanates and in many iron ores. Deposits of ilmenite and rutile are found in Florida, California, Tennessee, New York, and elsewhere. Titanium is present in the ash of coal, in plants, and in the human body. The metal was a laboratory curiosity until Kroll, in 1946, showed that titanium could be produced commercially by reducing titanium tetrachloride with magnesium. This method is largely used for producing the metal today. The metal can be purified by decomposing the iodide. Titanium, when pure, is a lustrous, white metal. It has a low density, good strength, is easily fabricated, and has excellent corrosion resistance. It is ductile only when it is free of oxygen. The metal burns in air and is the only element that burns in nitrogen. Titanium is resistant to dilute sulfuric and hydrochloric acid, most organic acids, moist chlorine gas, and chloride solutions. Natural titanium consists of five isotopes with atomic masses from 46 to 50. All are stable. Fifteen other unstable isotopes are known. The metal is dimorphic. The hexagonal alpha form changes to the cubic beta form very slowly at about 880 deg C. The metal combines with oxygen at red heat, and with chlorine at 550 deg C. Titanium is important as an alloying agent with aluminum, molybdenum, manganese, iron, and other metals. Alloys of titanium are principally used for aircraft and missiles where lightweight strength and ability to withstand extremes of temperature are important. Titanium is as strong as steel, but 45% lighter. It is 60% heavier than aluminum, but twice as strong. Titanium has potential use in desalination plants for converting sea water into fresh water. The metal has excellent resistance to sea water and is used for propeller shafts, rigging, and other parts of ships exposed to salt water. A titanium anode coated with platinum has been used to provide cathodic protection from corrosion by salt water. Titanium metal is considered to be physiologically inert; however, titanium powder may be a carcinogenic hazard. When pure, titanium dioxide is relatively clear and has an extremely high index of refraction with an optical dispersion higher than diamond. It is produced artificially for use as a gemstone, but it is relatively soft. Star sapphires and rubies exhibit their asterism as a result of the presence of TiO2. Titanium dioxide is extensively used for both house paint and artist's paint, as it is permanent and has good covering power. Titanium oxide pigment accounts for the largest use of the element. Titanium paint is an excellent reflector of infrared, and is extensively used in solar observatories where heat causes poor seeing conditions. Titanium tetrachloride is used to iridize glass. This compound fumes strongly in air and has been used to produce smoke screens. The price of titanium metal (99.8%) is about $550/kg. |
| Use | AS PROTECTIVE SURFACE ON MIXERS IN PULP-PAPER INDUSTRY; IN AIRCRAFT & MISSILES; IN ATOMIC REACTORS AS CASING FOR CONTROL WIRES Titanium powder used in pyrotechnics and vacuum engineering. MFR OF ELECTRODES & LAMP FILAMENTS; IN SURGICAL APPLIANCES MFR WELDING RODS; IN PAINT MFR & DYE INDUSTRY MEDICATION: IN THERAPY OF SKIN DISORDERS As alloy with copper and iron in titanium bronze; as addition to steel to impart great tensile strength; to aluminum to impart resistance to attack by salt soln and by organic acids; to remove traces of oxygen and nitrogen from incandescent lamps. Surgical acid (fracture fixation). In the chemical industry for tubing and lining vessels used in the production of nitric acid and acetaldehyde. A component of materials used for surgical implants or prosthesis. Use as an implant material in orthopedics, oral surgery, and neurosurgery. |
| Consumption Patterns | 45% AS A METAL FOR MILITARY & SPACE USES; 35% AS A METAL FOR COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT USES; 20% AS A METAL FOR REACTION VESSELS, TITANIUM ANODES, HEAT EXCHANGER TUBING AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL USES (1973) JET ENGINES AIRFRAMES, & SPACE AND MISSLE APPLICATIONS, 63%; CHEMICAL PROCESSING INDUSTRY, POWER GENERATION AND IN MARINE & ORDINANCE APPLICATIONS, 20%; STEEL AND OTHER ALLOYS, 17% (1985) |
| Apparent Color | DARK GRAY LUSTROUS METAL, HEXAGONAL BELOW 882.5 DEG C, CUBIC ABOVE |
| Boiling Point | 3287 DEG C |
| Melting Point | 1660 + OR - 10 DEG C |
| Molecular Weight | 47.90 |
| Density | 4.5 @ 20 DEG C |
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Chemical and Physical Properties |
BRITTLE WHEN COLD, MALLEABLE WHEN HOT, DUCTILE ONLY WHEN FREE OF OXYGEN; COMBINES WITH NITROGEN @ 800 DEG C DECOMP STEAM @ 700-800 DEG C; ATTACKED BY ACIDS ONLY ON HEATING; COMBINES WITH OXYGEN @ RED HEAT; SPECIFIC HEAT: 5.98 CAL/G-ATOM AT 25 DEG C; OXIDIZED BY NITRIC ACID ATOMIC NUMBER: 22; ATOMIC RADIUS: 1.36 A; ORBITAL ELECTRONS: (AR) 3D2-4S2; IONIC CRYSTAL RADII: 0.90 A (+2); 0.68 A (+4); ELECTRONEGATIVITY (PAULING SCALE): 1.5; ISOTOPES, NATURAL (MASS NUMBERS): 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 REACTS WITH FLUORINE @ 150 DEG C, WITH CHLORINE @ 300 DEG C, WITH BROMINE @ 360 DEG, WITH IODINE ABOVE 360 DEG C HIGHLY RESISTANT TO CORROSION FROM BOILING GLACIAL ACETIC ACID, CONCN NITRIC ACID, 5% SULFURIC ACID & SEA WATER; VERY HIGH TENSILE STRENGTH THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY: 105 BTU/SQ FT/ F/HR; VICKERS HARDNESS 80-100 FIVE NATURAL ISOTOPES: 48 (73.94%); 46 (7.93%); 47 (7.28%); 49 (5.51%); 50 (5.34%) |
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Environmental Impact |
INDUSTRIAL EXPOSURES CONSIST CHIEFLY OF DUST & FUME OF TITANIUM & TITANIUM DIOXIDE FROM ELECTRIC FURNACE OPERATIONS. EXPOSURE TO TITANIUM IS MAINLY ASSOC WITH METAL, DIOXIDE, CARBIDE, OR TETRACHLORIDE. EXPOSURE USUALLY IN FORM OF DUST BUT EXPOSURES TO FUMES & VAPORS OCCUR DURING HANDLING OF TITANIUM TETRACHLORIDE. EST BODY BURDEN OF TITANIUM IS ABOUT 15 MG. MOST OF IT IS IN LUNGS, PROBABLY AS RESULT OF INHALATION EXPOSURE. INHALED TITANIUM TENDS TO REMAIN IN LUNGS FOR LONG PERIODS. IT HAS BEEN EST THAT ABOUT 1/3 OF INHALED TITANIUM IS RETAINED IN LUNGS. |
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Environmental Fate |
OCCURS AS OXIDE IN MINERALS RUTILE, ILMENITE, PEROVSKITE, ANATASE, OR OCTAHEDRITE & BROOKITE; OTHER MINERALS INCL SPHENE OR TITANITE & BENITOITE. TITANIUM IS PRESENT IN METEORITES & IN SUN. 9TH MOST ABUNDANT ELEMENT IN EARTH'S CRUST, 0.63% BY WT POTENTIALLY SIGNFICANT CONCENTRATIONS OF MINERALS HAVE BEEN FOUND AT OCEAN FLOOR SITES 5 TO 50 MILES OFF THE COASTS OF VIRGINIA AND GEORGIA DEPOSITS OF AT LEAST 3 TO 10% HEAVY MINERALS CONTAINING TITANIUM. |
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Atmosphere |
TITANIUM IS A CONTAMINANT OF URBAN AIR @ AVERAGE CONCN OF 0.04 UG/CU M & MAX CONCN OF 1.10 UG/CU M IN 1964-1965. CONCN OF TITANIUM CMPD IN AIR OF 20-50 MG/CU M REPORTED IN CONNECTION WITH DUSTY OPERATIONS. |
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