Spotlight On: Titanium

At Dean Group, we work with a vast range of materials, such as copper and stainless steel. The right metals and alloys make all the difference, so it's crucial that you work with an investment casting company capable of creating the parts and components you need.

In this article, we're taking a look at titanium, a key material in many industries due to its strength and durability.

What is Titanium?

Titanium is an exotic metal. It's the 9^th most abundant element in the planet's crust and has the atomic number 22. It tends to occur in small deposits in a variety of rocks and is named after the Titans in Greek mythology. However, before this, it was called gregorite, after the chemist William Gregor who discovered it in 1791 in iron – this metal was only isolated in 1910.

Titanium has many different properties, making it suitable for the medical, aerospace, and oil and gas sectors. Titanium is often alloyed with other metals, such as aluminium, which creates more malleable alloys that still have all the benefits titanium provides.

Properties of Titanium

There are many reasons for opting for titanium casting, including the following properties:

Strength

Titanium is an incredibly strong material but contrary to steel, it has lower density, making it useful for applications where weight is a concern- making it is well suited to the aviation and automotive sectors, for example.

Resistance to Corrosion

This is a very important property. Because of its high level of corrosion resistance, titanium is perfect for marine environments and commonly used in prosthetics. Titanium is also resistant to substances like mineral acids and chlorides, so it can also be found in chemical plants.

Durability

The metal is also resistant to wear and tear, meaning it can last for a very long time, even in harsh conditions, such as those of the oil and gas industry. Another thing that makes titanium so durable is its good degree of crack and fatigue resistance.

Resistance to Heat

Titanium has a melting point of over 1650^oC and a boiling point of 3287^oC, so it's clear this material can withstand extremely high temperatures.

Non-Toxicity

A lack of toxicity and its anti-bacterial properties allow titanium to be used in the human body. The metal is compatible with human tissue and bone, so it has a range of applications within the medical sector.

Easy to Alloy

Titanium can be alloyed with many other materials, including molybdenum and iron, which gives it more flexibility. Due to this, parts with awkward shapes can still have the necessary strength to perform well.

There are also several grades of titanium that are useful for different applications, so this is something to consider. We can help you with this, so you don't have to make a decision in a vacuum!

Industries That Use Titanium

Many markets benefit greatly from titanium so, if you require parts made from this metal, talk to us, and we'll be happy to help. We work with clients across various sectors and can meet all demands, no matter how strict.

Applications for titanium include – but are not limited to – the following:

• Aircraft
• Body piercings
• Prosthetics
• Sunscreen
• Missiles
• Vehicles
• Chemical and petrochemical plants
• Nuclear waste storage
• Oil refineries
• Sports equipment
• Golf clubs
• Bicycles
• Computers
• Crutches
• Tooth implants
• Springs
• Turbines
• Artificial joints

Before manufacturing the parts, we can provide a model through computer simulation so you can better visualise what the end product will look like and how it will perform. We also offer rapid casting prototyping, which can save you money, allowing you to compare alternative design concepts, helping you validate your design, and so on.

We focus on quality when designing or manufacturing your products and put every design and part through rigorous testing. This means that when you get the final product, it's already been thoroughly inspected and analysed for integrity and quality.

Dean Group and Titanium

When discussing your project, we'll work with you to decide which metal or alloy is the best, which means we won't direct you to any particular material. Once you have all the information you need, you can more easily come to a decision – and we're happy to make recommendations, too, ensuring you have the suitable material for your exact requirements.

Titanium is ideal in high-temperature, high-stress environments so, if this is the right option, we'll cast the parts you need through our premium grade investment casting process. This offers several benefits, including precision, high accuracy, low initial tooling costs, and more.

Speak to us if you'd like to learn more about this exotic metal or about what we can do for you. We'll choose the right processes for your project and also take additional treatments into account if necessary, meaning we ensure your parts are finished to perfection as well.