Applications of Titanium and Titanium Alloys

What is special about Titanium Alloy?

High Cost of Titanium Alloys

• Low chemical reactivity at high temperatures necessitates stringent smelting techniques
• Smelting must occur under high temperatures and vacuum conditions (often exceeding 800°C)
• More challenging than iron and steel smelting processes

Special Applications of Titanium Alloys

• High-end metal materials with unique properties (lightweight, high strength, high-temperature resistance)
• Used in the aerospace industry (essential national assets)
• Manufacturing of cutting-edge weaponry

Applicazioni delle leghe di titanio

Chemical Industry

• Alkali Production:
  • Titanium coolers improve chlorine gas output quality by addressing issues from traditional cooling processes.
  • They have a lifespan of up to 20 years, transforming the production landscape of the chlor-alkali industry.
• Salt Production:
  • Titanium-steel composite structures in heating and evaporation chambers prevent salt scale formation.
  • This enhances salt production quality, reduces corrosion on pipe walls, and extends maintenance intervals for vacuum salt production processes.

Aerospace Industry

Extensive use in aircraft structures:

• landing gear components, frames, fuselage skins, and thermal shields.

High-strength applications:

• Landing gear and load-bearing beams:
• Il-76 aircraft: BT22 Lega di titanio
• Boeing 747: Ti-6Al-4V (main landing gear drive beam – 6.2m long, 0.95m wide, 1545kg)

C-17 horizontal stabilizer pivot:

• Ti-62222S titanium alloy (critical components)

Aircraft engine components:

• Compressor discs, blades, casings, high-pressure compressor rotors and casings.

Example:

• Boeing 747-8GENX engine – titanium alloy protective sleeves on fan blades (only 3 replacements in 10 years).

Titanium Alloys in the Space Industry

• Ideal material for spacecraft due to extreme working conditions
• Used in Apollo spacecraft cabin, wings, and ribs (Ti-5Al-2.5Sn)
• European Alpha communication satellite fuel tank (high-strength Ti-15V-3Cr alloy)
• Russian space engineering: large forgings (BT23 titanium alloy) in Energy carrier launch vehicle
• Applicazioni: liquid fuel rocket engine tanks, low-temperature storage tanks, liquid hydrogen pump impellers

Titanium Alloys in Maritime Applications

• Extensive use in submarines, submersibles, icebreakers, hydrofoils, hovercraft, and minesweepers
• Applicazioni: eliche, antennas, pipelines, condensers, scambiatori di calore, acoustic devices, firefighting equipment
• Examples:
  • US “Sea Cliff” deep submersible – titanium cabins for 6100m depth
  • Japan’s “Molishiten II” all-titanium fast boat