What is Titanium commonly used for?

A very abundant element (the ninth most abundant element in fact) titanium metal has become a staple of mass production across countless industries, thanks to the significant advantages it holds over metals with similar properties and uses – such as steel and iron.

The metal has become in such great demand in recent years that global reserves reached a peak of around 700 million metric tons of titanium minerals in 2022, according to data specialists Statista.

But why is titanium and titanium alloy so popular among so many industries? And what is titanium used for today?

At TiTek, we’re experts in titanium and offer various grades of quality titanium – speak to one of our team members today to find out more.

Common uses of titanium

Medical tools and inserts

Within the medical industry, titanium has become incredibly popular in recent decades. Because medical tools need to be completely clean and sterile at all times, to ensure no unnecessary contaminants enter the body during even simple procedures, titanium is an excellent choice because it is highly resistant to corrosion.

Once pure titanium is exposed to the air, a layer of titanium dioxide forms on the surface. In essence, this creates a shield-like structure across the surface of the metal preventing oxygen and other airborne substances from sticking to the metal and causing it to degrade.

The same can be said for titanium which is used in outdoor applications.

Good corrosion resistance means titanium is incredibly resistant to rusting caused by excessive exposure to rain and moisture, while other metals would begin to discolour and deform.

From another medical standpoint, titanium has been used for decades to create medical inserts, such as bone replacements, dental implants and many more. This is because, along with being resistant to corrosion, titanium is bio-compatible, meaning it will not begin to degrade once placed inside the body, nor will it cause the body any harm.

This discovery effectively revolutionised many medical procedures overnight, allowing patients to enjoy good levels of health without worrying about the consequences of their operations.

Sports equipment

If you’re involved in any type of sport where external tools are required to participate, such as tennis or fishing, you’ll likely have used something made from titanium at some point.

Titanium is used in so many sporting applications because of its impressive strength-to-density ratio. This means that, for being such a relatively lightweight material, the metal holds up impressively well under constant pressure and impact. 

Tennis rackets are a prime example – not only do they absorb a significant number of impacts over the course of a match, but they are expected to uphold the same level of reliability across countless matches until needing to be replaced.

Titanium offers that reliability in spades. On top of this, because the metal is lightweight compared to some of its closest neighbours, it is easier for the athletes to lift and swing repeatedly as needed without tiring.

Car parts

Thanks to its undeniable strength and resilience, titanium makes an excellent choice in the production of car parts – both internal and external.

Internally (or under the hood), titanium alloys can be used in the creation of such automotive parts as engine components, piping, exhaust systems and much more.

Once again, the impressive strength and resilience of titanium make it an ideal choice for these kinds of applications. But it is also a great choice because of its heat resistant capabilities too. Unlike other metals, titanium can easily reach temperatures of over 600 degrees Celsius without faltering.

Given the extreme heat produced by many cars – including sportscars – it should come as no surprise titanium is often chosen to build automobiles that can stand up to even the most rigorous testing and conditions.

Choose TiTek for all your titanium needs 

If you need quality titanium as part of your production goals, or would simply like to know more about the uses of titanium in your area of specialty, TiTek is here to help.

We are a vendor of quality titanium with excellent corrosion resistance and strength-to-weight ratio. With decades of combined experience, we are ideally situated to offer you the best products, knowledge and value for money in the titanium space as possible.

For more information on What is Titanium commonly used for? talk to Ti-TEK (UK) Ltd