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The Science Behind Titanium’s Melting Point
One essential fact about titanium is its high melting point, accompanied by other charming features like low density and high strength-to-weight ratio. In this blog, we will discuss all the basic information about the melting point of titanium.
Basic Facts About Titanium
Titanium is a lightweight, strong, and corrosion-resistant transition metal with atomic number 22 and chemical symbol Ti. It has two types: α-type, which has a hexagonal crystal system, and β-titanium, which has a cubic crystal system. The most common titanium compound is titanium dioxide, used to manufacture white pigments. Titanium is relatively abundant, ranking tenth among all elements. It exists in almost all organisms, rocks, water bodies, and soils. Titanium requires the Kroll or Hunter process to extract it from the primary ore, mainly ilmenite and rutile.
Properties of Titanium
Titanium is a metal with a metallic luster and ductility. It has low density, high mechanical strength, and easy processing. A new heat-resistant titanium alloy that can withstand temperatures of 600℃ or higher has been developed.
Titanium alloys have good low-temperature resistance, making them ideal for low-temperature equipment such as storage tanks. Titanium is known for its anti-damping performance, which makes it useful for medical ultrasonic crushers and high-end audio speakers.
Titanium is non-toxic and compatible with human tissues, making it popular in medical industry. The similarity between titanium’s tensile strength and yield strength indicates poor plastic deformation during forming. The thermal resistance of titanium is low, allowing for a reduction in wall thickness while maintaining heat transfer performance.
The elastic modulus of titanium is 106.4 GPa, which is 57% that of steel.
The following is the ionization energy data of titanium (in kJ/mol)
M-M+ 658
M+ – M2+ 1310
M2+ – M3+ 2652
M3+ – M4+ 4175
M4+ – M5+ 9573
M5+ – M6+ 11516
M6+ – M7+ 13590
M7+ – M8+ 16260
M8+ – M9+ 18640
M9+ – M10+ 20830
Crystal number:
a = 295.08 pm
b = 295.08 pm
c = 468.55 pm
α = 90°
β = 90°
γ = 120°
What is the Melting Point of Titanium?
The melting point of pure titanium is theoretically higher than most metals. To be precise, the melting point of titanium is 1725°C (or 3135°F).
Titanium has a high melting point due to the strong chemical bonds between its atoms. These strong bonds give titanium excellent corrosion resistance and allow it to withstand high temperatures without deforming or breaking into other compounds.
Why is it Essential to Know the Melting Points of Titanium?
To comprehend the characteristics of titanium, it is vital to be aware of the melting point of various metals. This factor influences the metal’s utility and performance in various applications. It also impacts the metal’s manufacturing process and fabrication ability.
Factors Affecting Melting Temperature of Titanium
As you explore the melting temperature of titanium, you will find that this metal starts to melt at 1725°C in its pure form. However, you may notice some variations depending on the level of purity. For instance, if the diffusion mobility of atoms in titanium is changed, the melting point may shift by 450°C. Hence, some titanium alloys may have higher melting points.
Here are some examples of the most common titanium alloy melting points:
Ti 6AL-4V: 1878 – 1933°C
Ti 6AL ELI: 1604 – 1660°C
Ti 3Al 2.5: ≤1700°C
Ti 5Al-2.5S: ≤1590°C
It’s important to remember that processes such as dispersion strengthening can significantly improve the melting point of titanium.
Comparison Of Melting Points Of Titanium And Other Metals
Here are the melting points of titanium and some other commonly used metals for comparison:
- Titanium: 1670°C
- Aluminum: 660°C
- Aluminum Bronze: 1027-1038°C
- Brass: 930°C
- Copper: 1084°C
- Cast iron 1127 to 1204
- Carbon steel 1371 to 1593
- Chromium: 1860°C
- Gold: 1063°C
- Inconel: 1390-1425°C
- Incoloy: 1390 to 1425°C
- Lead: 328°C
- Molybdenum: 2620°C
- Magnesium: 349 to 649°C
- Nickel: 1453°C
- Platinum: 1770°C
- Ruthenium: 2482°C
- Silver: 961°C
- Stainless Steel: 1375 – 1530°C
- Tungsten: 3400°C
- Vanadium: 1900°C
- Zirconium: 1854°C
- Zinc: 420°C
The Impact of Titanium’s Melting Point on Its Properties and Applications
The melting point of titanium is a crucial physical property that greatly affects the properties and uses of titanium materials. It is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Preparation Process
The high melting point of titanium makes its preparation process quite complicated. Special preparation processes such as high-temperature melting or powder metallurgy are generally required to obtain high purity titanium material.
Mechanical Properties
The high melting point of titanium ensures its high thermal stability and resistance to thermal expansion, making it less susceptible to deformation and plastic deformation. Therefore, the mechanical properties of titanium are usually quite stable, with good tensile strength and elastic modulus.
Heat Treatment
Titanium materials with high melting points are less prone to phase transformation during heat treatment, with excellent heat treatment performance and stable microstructure. It can improve the comprehensive properties of materials, such as hardness, strength, and toughness.
Application Scope
The high melting point of titanium also limits its application scope, mainly in aerospace, nuclear energy, and other high-temperature, high-strength, and corrosion-resistant environments. It is used in precision equipment and devices such as aviation engines, fuselage skeletons, ship structural components, medical implants, etc.
How to Improve The Melting Point of Titanium?
Its solid structure and physical properties determine the melting point of titanium. Several aspects must be considered to improve its melting point, such as purity, crystal form, alloy elements, and special processes.
Higher-purity titanium materials generally have higher melting points. To achieve this, high-purity raw materials must be used, and impurities must be minimized during preparation.
The crystal form of titanium also affects its melting point. For instance, the melting point of a half-titanium alloy is higher than that of a half-titanium alloy. Therefore, studying the effects of titanium materials with various crystal forms is essential.
The elements added to titanium alloys also significantly impact their melting point. By adjusting the type and content of alloy elements, the melting point of titanium can be improved. For instance, some high-temperature structured titanium alloys use special elements such as rare earth elements and transition metals to increase their melting point.
Special processing and heat treatment techniques can also improve the melting point of titanium materials. For example, new processes such as plasma arc melting and laser cladding can effectively improve the melting point of titanium materials.
The melting point of titanium is one of its essential physical properties, which significantly impacts the properties and applications of titanium materials. The melting point of titanium is approximately 1660 ℃, and its specific value depends on factors such as titanium purity, alloying elements, and crystal structure. Therefore, to improve its melting point, it is necessary to consider multiple aspects, including purity control, appropriate alloy selection, crystal structure adjustment, and special techniques.
FAQS
Can titanium melt when exposed to lava?
Titanium metal is resistant to melting in natural lavas because it has a high melting point of 1,660°C, while most natural basaltic lavas have a temperature range of 1,100-1,200°C. When titanium is placed on a lava flow, it remains solid and does not melt.
What is the melting point of titanium compared to steel?
Titanium has a higher melting point than carbon steel, with a range of 1650-1670 °C compared to the 1371-1593 °C range of carbon steel. It makes titanium the preferred choice for applications with high melting point requirements.
Conclusion
Titanium is known for having a higher melting temperature than most common metals. This unique property makes it a popular option for aerospace and heating applications. If you need any titanium fabricated parts, Enze is a trusted partner that you can rely on. Don’t hesitate to contact us now for more information.
