Titanium Alloys
Titanium (Ti) is a lightweight metal which forms amazing alloys with aluminium, vanadium, tantalum, niobium etc. These alloys are hard while being light. Initially, they were used in aerospace and aviation for making aircraft bodies. But now more applications are being found in automobile and general engineering. For example, the Tata Chemicals factory at Mithapur (India) uses huge Ti-alloy vessels for processing caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), which will otherwise corrode stainless steels in seconds.
Ti-alloys are difficult to weld and cut, hence they have not edged out steels. But they rule the roost in bio-medical implants. Ti alloys are now common in making jewellery, golf-clubs, expensive watches... there's a lot that can be done!
***************************************************************
No comments:
Post a Comment