Titanium Facts

Enjoy our list of interesting titanium facts. Learn about the uses and properties of titanium and how important its unique strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance is for modern product development.

Find out what products are made using titanium, how abundant the element is in the Earth's crust, what other metals are alloyed with titanium and much more with our fun titanium facts.

• The chemical element Titanium has the symbol Ti and atomic number 22.

• Pure titanium is a transition metal with a lustrous silver-white color.

• Titanium will always be found bonded with another element it does not naturally occur on its own in a pure form.

• British pastor William Gregor discovered titanium in 1791. It was later named by German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth who called it titanium after the Titans of Greek mythology. It was not until 1910 that titanium was produced to 99.9% purity by New Zealander Matthew A. Hunter, the method became known as the Hunter Process.

• Titanium has two very useful properties, it is resistant to corrosion (including in sea water and chlorine) and has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal.

• Titanium is as strong as a lot of steels, yet it is 45% lighter. The metal is also 60% denser than aluminium but is over two times as strong.

• Titanium has a melting point of 3,034 °F (1,668 °C) and a boiling point of 5,949 °F (3,287 °C).

• Titanium is non-magnetic and is not very good at conducting heat or electricity.

• Even in large doses titanium remains non-toxic and does not have any natural role inside the human body, usually passing through without being absorbed.

• Titanium is present in most igneous rocks and their sediments, it is the 9th most abundant element in the Earth's crust and the 7th most abundant metal.

• Many elements such as iron, aluminium, nickel and vanadium are alloyed with titanium to produce strong lightweight alloys. These titanium alloys are used in the manufacturing of naval ships, spacecraft, missiles and aircraft, with around two thirds of all titanium metal produced is used in aircraft engines and frames.

• Titanium metal is also used in the production of high-end racing cars and motorcycles where reducing weight but maintaining strength is important.

• Titanium's strength-to-weight superiority has seen the metal used as a component in many other products in recent times including, laptops, firearms, tennis rackets, golf clubs, lacrosse sticks, football helmet grills, bicycles frames, camping cookware and utensils.

• Around 95% of all titanium is used to produce the compound titanium dioxide, which is a very bright and refractive white pigment that is used in paints, plastics, toothpaste, sunscreens, sports equipment and paper.

• The famous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, is covered in titanium panels.

• The fact that titanium is strong, light, non-toxic and does not react with out bodies makes it a valuable medical resource. Its used to make surgical implements and implants, such as hip joint replacements that can stay in place for up to 20 years.

• Titanium is now popular in designer rings and other jewelry due to its durability, its resistance to seawater and chlorine in swimming pools and as it is non-toxic.

• Titanium is present in meteorites, the sun, and other stars.