Titanium is a chemical element found in abundance in nature occurring primarily in igneous rocks and secondary alluvial sands. It is the ninth most abundant element in Earth’s crust accounting for an average of 0.6 per cent by weight. It is a transition metal of Group 4 in the modern periodic table and was discovered in 1783 by the amateur mineralogist William Gregor and isolated the following year by Reverend William Bligh.
Titanium is a silvery grey metal with a low density and high strength. It has good corrosion resistance most notably in air and salt water, making it a popular choice for aerospace and other applications that often involve exposure to the elements. It has excellent strength-to-weight ratio and is resistant to fatigue, making it useful for applications such as bearings and connecting rods. Titanium can also be combined with other elements including aluminum, silicon, and oxygen to form titanium compounds, many of which are used as pigment agents or to create hardwearing alloys.
Titanium compounds were first synthesized in 1910 by Finnish chemist Fredrik Adolf Marttiina von Lindberg. Marttiina’s compounds were synthesized by submitting titanium metal to the action of chlorine gas and other halogens, such as bromine. This reaction yielded a series of oxides, chlorides, and bromides in various combinations. These compounds proved to be insoluble in water, but soluble in organic solvents.
The titanium hydride (TiH2) compound is a most important and novel compound. It was discovered in the early 1940s by Hermann Oskar Miller and Weston Vivian Price, who found that when powdered titanium was reacted with hydrogen gas, the resulting compound was extremely hard and had excellent resistance to corrosion and oxidation. Titanium hydride is an extremely hard and strong grey-white powder composed of titanium and hydrogen atoms. It has an exceptionally high melting point of 1867°C and an extraordinarily low density of 1.2 g/cc, making it an excellent material for shaping and molding. In addition, it can be formed by sintering or electroplating which makes it an ideal candidate for a variety of uses in industry.
Titanium hydride has an extended list of applications. It is used as an electrical conductor, heat transfer medium, and protective coating. It is principally used in the production of high-performance molds due to its extreme hardness, low density, and capability to function at high temperatures. It is also employed to refine metal products, such as aluminum and copper alloys, steel, and stainless steel.
Titanium hydride is extensively used in the production of titanium silicon alloys, primarily for aircraft parts, medical implants, sporting goods, and chemical processing equipment. It is also used as a catalyst to synthesize chlorinated and aliphatic hydrocarbons, as well as producing some special metals and alloys. Its low cost and high performance are what make it a popular choice for industrial applications.
In the area of biomedical and metallic application, titanium hydride is used for orthopedic implants, since it does not corrode easily even in a high humidity environment. It is employed for facial, skull and joint replacement surgeries. Titanium alloys containing titanium hydride have been used in the aerospace industry for a number of years owing to its extreme strength and corrosion resistance. It is also used in the production of laser optics and golf clubs.
In conclusion, titanium hydride is an important and novel chemical compound that offers numerous applications in the industrial, medical and aerospace fields. It offers a unique combination of thermal stability, low density, and immense strength which make it a preferred choice for many applications. Further, its low cost and easy incorporation into metal alloys make it an attractive option for industrial production.
