Fe & TiO2

2017.06.21

Everybody knows what Fe is for – iron is the main ingredient in steel making – without iron you don’t make steel.

Not many people realize how useful and widely used titanium is. Even fewer know anything about titanium oxide.

Titanium is as strong as steel but weights 50% less, it’s twice as strong as aluminum but only 60% heavier. Titanium, when combined with iron, aluminum, vanadium, nickel, molybdenum and other metals produces high-performance alloys.

Titanium metal use in the aerospace, sports and medicine sectors is well known but most people, even though 10 times more titanium is used in the form of titanium oxide compared to titanium metal, have never heard of titanium oxide.

Titanium dioxide provides whiteness and opacity for paints, plastics and paper – the most important constituent of paint is TiO2 which gives paint its high gloss and rich depth of color (TiO2 replaced lead in paint).

TiO2 is resistant to UV radiation and does not discolor over time – ultra pure  titanium dioxide is used for sun screens.

The disinfectant and self-cleaning qualities of TiO2 are employed in coated ceramic tile for use in homes. TiO2 coated self-cleaning roof tiles are also used for homes and buildings.

The photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide remove ethylene gas from the air. Ethylene is a naturally occurring hormone produced by plants that triggers ripening, removing ethylene gas prevents spoilage of fruits, vegetables and cut flowers increasing their shelf life.

Titanium dioxide is used as a semi-conductor and to catalyse the photodecomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen. It also has a high dielectric constant and a high resistance and is used to make capacitors.

Because of titanium dioxides remarkable thermal stability (a melting point of 2100 K) it is used as a ceramic material. It is also used to increase the acid resistance of vitreous enamels.

The iron (63,507,083 tons) and titanium (2.24b pounds) contained within Vanadium One’s Mt. Sorcier deposit are saleable.