The History of Titanium Though titanium is one of the most commonly used metals in modern manufacturing, but this was not always the case. Titanium was first discovered in England and Germany in the late 18th century, but it wasn't until the early 20th century that its practical industrial applications came to be appreciated. Now, centuries after it was first unearthed, titanium is considered integral to modern machining, manufacturing, and industrial production. In this article, we'll discuss the history of titanium, from its discovery, to its first industrial uses, to its modern applications. 1790s – Discovery Humans first discovered titanium in the 1790s. English pastor W. Gregor and German M.H. Klaporth both independently discovered the metal around the same time. Though it was later discovered that titanium is one of the most abundant metals found on earth (100 times more common than copper and zinc, and 400 times more plentiful than lead), for many years after its discovery it was considered a very rare element. This, combined with the fact that isolating titanium from ores was an incredibly difficult process, meant that there was little demand for titanium after its initial discovery. The German discoverer of titanium, Klaporth, is the one who gave the element its name. "Titanium" is derived from "titan," the name of the children of the earth, Gaia, in Greek mythology. It is the 22nd element on the atomic chart, and is given the initials "Ti". 1910s – Extraction and Practical Use It was not until 1910 that American metallurgist M.A. Hunter invented the process of extracting titanium from the ores it was found in. Despite the fact that titanium is the ninth most common element in the Earth's crust, it generally does not come in pure veins or pockets of pure metal. When titanium is mined, it is most commonly found as one part of mineral ores made up of a combination of elements, such as rutile (TiO2) and ilmenite (FeTiO3). Before Hunter developed his process for extracting titanium from these ores (which used coke and chlorine to separate out titanium particles), it was difficult to gather enough pure titanium to use for any practical purpose. While Hunter was the first to create the process of refining titanium, it was a man named Dr. Wilhelm Kroll who made collecting purified titanium convenient enough that the metal could be used for large-scale manufacturing purposes. 1940s – Aerospace Applications Titanium truly came into its own as an important manufacturing metal in the 1940s when the US government determined that is was the ideal metal to use in the construction of military airplanes. Not only is titanium both stronger and lighter than steel, it is also highly resistant to corrosion and high temperatures. As such, it was the perfect choice for constructing military aircraft, which needed to be strong, light, corrosion resistant, and able to stand up to harsh conditions.
Modern Day – Widespread Usage Today, titanium is still commonly used to construct propellers and other airplane parts. But its uses extend far beyond that. Titanium's unique and valuable properties have lead to its common usage in architecture, medical science (where it is the metal of choice for bone strengthening and replacement), industrial tubing, sports equipment, and even exquisite jewelry, where it can be combined with carbon fiber, titanium and decorative materials to create a sleek, polished look.
Summary Though titanium was discovered in the 1790s, it was not until the 20th century that it found widespread use. Since then, it has become commonly used in the fields of aerospace, medicine, industrial equipment, and more. Company Bio William Henry is the creator of high-class jewelry and accessories for men. Combining superb craftsmanship, William Henry uses precious, rare and exotic materials to create unique designs that stand well above the competition. Learn more at www.williamhenry.com