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Titanium: light, strong, and white

September 10, 2013

Titanium (Ti) is a strong silver-gray metal that is highly resistant to corrosion and is chemically inert. It is as strong as steel but 45 percent lighter, and it is twice as strong as aluminum but only 60 percent heavier. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has a very high refractive index, which means that it has high light-scattering ability. As a result, TiO2 imparts whiteness, opacity, and brightness to many products. ...Because of the unique physical properties of titanium metal and the whiteness provided by TiO2, titanium is now used widely in modern industrial societies.

Publication Year 2013
Title Titanium: light, strong, and white
DOI 10.3133/fs20133059
Authors Laurel Woodruff, George Bedinger
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Fact Sheet
Series Number 2013-3059
Index ID fs20133059
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center; Mineral Resources Program