Current Issue
Vol.81 No.2, 2009
Many Facets
Thirty years ago, titanium was the new kid in the manufacturing neighborhood, rejected for its high cost and the unknowns of its performance.
Now, however, it has become a golden child among metals, preferred for its corrosion resistance, high strength and relative low density and weight. In fact, each of Boeing’s new 787 airliners, touted for a 20 percent reduction in fuel use, uses titanium alloys extensively, accounting for about 20 percent of the aircraft’s weight when empty. In addition to its burgeoning use in aerospace applications, titanium’s demand is on the rise in markets including offshore oil and gas production as well as automotive and architectural applications.
