In an industry that requires traversing many different altitudes and conditions, endurance matters.
1. Melting Point and Strength
Titanium is functionally favorable in the aerospace industry due to its high melting point and resistance to corrosion and other stressors. It can provide the same strength as steel at just 40% of the weight.
Additionally, titanium has a tensile strength of 30,000 to 200,000 psi, depending on the type, and its melting point is around 400 degrees above that of steel and 1,800 degrees above aluminum. It’s also generally not affected by air, water, or acids.
2. Managing the Elements
Titanium’s resistance to stress-induced deformation, also known as creep resistance, extends to temperature and repeated stress cycles; aerospace-aimed alloys can tolerate temperatures exceeding 1000 °F across thousands of hours of use.
Interestingly, the spectra of titanium oxide (its light-absorption profile) help astronomers identify the universe’s most common stars.
3. Lightweight
In aerospace, weight reduction is essential, as a lighter aircraft increases payload capacity, betters fuel efficiency, reduces operational costs, and decreases environmental impact. On top of these benefits, a lower-weight aircraft also boosts structural integrity, heat resistance, and overall durability.
Different Grades
The material’s capabilities also depend on titanium grade. Titanium forms such as alloys — a combination of other metals — can significantly alter a material’s mechanical properties. For example, commercially pure titanium is prized for its corrosion resistance but is not as strong as titanium alloys.
Applications of Titanium in Aerospace
Titanium is used in various aerospace applications due to its many beneficial qualities.
Its strong yet lightweight properties make it a critical material in building fuselages, frames, landing gear, and other structural aircraft parts. For example, in the Boeing 787, titanium alloys comprise around 15% of the airframe’s weight. In the Airbus A350XWB, they make up about 14% and are used in landing gear, attachments, frames, and other parts.
Additionally, titanium’s ability to withstand high temperatures and thousands of hours of work make it an invaluable element for aircraft engine manufacturers, who incorporate it into numerous components, including turbine disks and compressor blades.
Where Else Can Titanium Alloy Products Be Found in Aerospace?
In aerospace manufacturing, titanium can also be found in these parts:
· Missiles
· Aircraft engines
· Structural inserts on satellites and military aircraft
· Frames
· Exhaust systems