Applications of Titanium Materials in Six Common Fields

Titanium for Hydrogen Storage Materials
Among the four series of hydrogen storage metals currently used by humans, titanium-based materials are one of the options and relatively inexpensive. However, an ideal "hydrogen storage metal" has not yet been discovered. Once this issue is resolved, hydrogen could be widely adopted as a fuel.

Titanium in Artificial Bones
The application of titanium in surgical medical procedures is particularly fascinating. Currently, stainless steel is used for bone fixation, but it has a significant drawback: after the bone heals, the stainless steel plates must be removed, which is a painful process. Otherwise, the stainless steel may rust and pose risks to the human body. Replacing stainless steel with titanium-based "artificial bones" would revolutionize orthopedic technology. For instance, when titanium plates and screws are used to repair damaged skull areas, within a few months, new bone tissue grows into the small holes of the titanium plates and around the screws. New muscle fibers also envelop the titanium sheets, allowing the titanium bones to integrate seamlessly with flesh and blood, providing support and reinforcement. Thus, titanium is hailed as a "biophilic metal." It is now being applied in knee joints, shoulder joints, rib joints, skull repairs, artificial heart valves, and bone fixation clamps.

Titanium in Detection Instruments
Barium titanate crystals are widely used in ultrasonic instruments and underwater detectors. This is because these crystals generate an electric current when their shape changes under pressure, and conversely, they change shape when an electric current is applied. When placed in ultrasonic waves, barium titanate produces an electric current under pressure, and the magnitude of this current can measure the intensity of the ultrasonic waves. Conversely, applying high-frequency electric current to it can generate ultrasonic waves.

Titanium in the Aircraft Industry
The use of "titanium aircraft" can reduce the airframe weight by 5 tons, allowing for over 100 additional passengers. In new jet engines, titanium alloys account for 18–25% of the total engine weight. In emerging supersonic aircraft, titanium makes up nearly 95% of the total structural weight. Therefore, without titanium alloys, the development of modern supersonic aircraft would be severely hindered.

Titanium in the Coating Industry
Titanium dioxide is a valuable white pigment known as titanium white. It combines the hiding power of lead white with the durability of zinc white. Just one gram of titanium white can cover an area of over 450 square centimeters with a bright white finish. Particularly valuable is its non-toxic nature. Currently, hundreds of thousands of tons of titanium dioxide are used annually as a pigment.

Titanium in Military Applications
Titanium tetrachloride releases large amounts of white smoke in humid air. Due to this property, it is commonly used in military applications as an artificial smoke agent. Especially in marine environments, where moisture is abundant, releasing titanium tetrachloride creates a thick smoke screen resembling a "white wall," obstructing the enemy's line of sight.