During the Cold War, the CIA secretly bought this metal from its own enemy — the Soviet Union. Without it, building the fastest plane ever, the SR-71 Blackbird, was impossible. No other metal could survive the extreme heat and stress at speeds above 3,500 km/h.
Titanium is the ninth most abundant element in Earth's crust. It comes from minerals like ilmenite and rutile. It is as strong as steel but 45% lighter. It does not rust, even in seawater. That is why engineers pick it for aircraft, implants, and submarines.
Today, 65% of all titanium goes to aviation. A Boeing 787 engine is one-quarter titanium alloys. In medicine, titanium replaces bones — the body accepts it as its own. And titanium dioxide TiO₂ hides everywhere: in wall paint, toothpaste, sunscreen, and even candy.
The future of titanium lies in 3D printing. Engineers already print titanium rocket parts for SpaceX. This cuts material waste by 90% compared to traditional machining.
Solid titanium is completely safe — it is even implanted into human bodies. But titanium powder and fine shavings catch fire easily. Above 1,200 °C, titanium burns with a bright white flame that water and CO₂ extinguishers only make worse. TiO₂ nanoparticles can irritate the lungs when inhaled. Factories require strong ventilation and a strict ban on open flames near titanium dust.
The SR-71 Blackbird spy plane was 85% titanium. The CIA secretly bought the metal from the USSR through shell companies — the enemy itself supplied the material for America's top spy plane.
Titanium does not corrode in seawater even after 1,000 years. Its oxide layer is so stable that it outperforms any artificial coating.
The human body does not reject titanium. Bones fuse with titanium implants as if they were natural tissue. Scientists call this process osseointegration.
Titanium dioxide TiO₂ is the most popular white pigment on Earth. Over 8 million tons are produced every year — that is the weight of 40,000 Statues of Liberty.
Titanium is one of the most expensive structural metals. A kilogram costs 10–20 times more than steel because the Kroll process requires 900 °C and a vacuum.
| Isotope | Mass (u) | Abundance | Half-life | Decay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
46Ti | 45.952632 | 8.25% | stable | — |
47Ti | 46.951763 | 7.44% | stable | — |
48Ti | 47.947946 | 73.72% | stable | — |
49Ti | 48.947870 | 5.41% | stable | — |
50Ti | 49.944791 | 5.18% | stable | — |
Analysis of ilmenite sand