Herman Ziegler, age 10, of Greenville, S.C., for his question:
WHERE DO WE FIND TITANIUM?
William Gregor of England discovered titanium in 1791 and it was named by Martin Klaproth of Germany in 1795. However, it was not until the 1930s that a refining method adaptable to large scale production was worked out by William Droll of,Luxembourg. It was then in 1948 that the DuPont Company worked out methods to produce titanium metal commercially.
Titanium is a silver gray, lightweight metal. Its density lies between that of aluminum and stainless steel.
Titanium rates as the world's ninth most plentiful element. But because it is so difficult to process, the metal is very expensive. Titanium is never found in a pure state. It normally is found in ilmenite or rutile. Sometimes it is found in iron, titanite or in titaniferous magnetite.
Titanium is found in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Malaysia, Norway and the United States. Large deposits are also found in Russia.
In the United States, the only titanium producing states are Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, New York and Virginia. Quebec is the only Canadian province where the metal is produced.
Titanium resists sea air and sea water corrosion and rust as well as platinum and better than stainless steel. It is ductile, which means that it can be drawn into wire. Also, it has a higher strength weight ratio than steel.
Titanium metal is an excellent alloying element because it unites with nearly every material except copper and aluminum. It is used mainly as an alloy in iron.
Titanium is used extensively in aircraft and jet engines because it is light and strong. It can also withstand temperatures up to about 800 degrees Fahrenheit.
You'll also find titanium metal used in armor plate, propeller blades for ships, steam turbine blades, surgical instruments and tools. It is also used in railroad trains, trucks, buses and automobiles.
Titanium dioxide, or titanium combined with oxygen, often substitutes for white lead in paint and also finds its way into linoleum, rubber, textiles, paper, porcelain enamel and welding rods.
The gem titania is made from crystals of titanium oxide. It is more brilliant than the diamond when it is cut and polished, although it is not quite as hard.
Titanium tetrachloride, or titanium combined with chlorine, has been used for making smoke screens. It is also used as the starting point for making the metal titanium.