|
USE OF
TITANIUM
 Titanium has
been called "the space-age metal" because of its high strength/weight ratio and
its resistance to corrosion. Its price, due to energy-consuming and complicated
refinement, is relatively high. The use of titanium metal and alloys is essentially
restricted to the aerospace industry and special applications in the chemical industry. |
| The major
use of titanium, however, is as titanium dioxide pigment which account for about 95% of
the total titanium consumption. Because of its whiteness, high refractive index and
light-scattering abilities, titanium dioxide is excellent as a filler and white pigment in
paints, paper, plastics and other materials. |
| Relatively
minor applications are the direct use of rutile in welding-rod coatings, and of ilmenite
and titanomagnetite as a floatation medium in coal separation and as a heavy aggregate. |
| Titanium
oxide is also used as additive in a variety of foods, tablets and sun-protective creams.
In such applications it is often called E 171. |
|