One of the most versatile metals on the planet, titanium has found a home in various industries where its anti-corrosion and heat-resistant qualities can be put to good use, amongst its other favourable properties.
But the strength of titanium and titanium alloys working in conjunction with these other qualities is what makes it such a necessary and attractive choice in industries where durability and reliability are paramount.
The motorsport and aviation industries, for example, have used titanium to their advantage on a massive scale, revolutionising the mechanical properties of cars, planes and more.
But how exactly does the strength of titanium benefit the motorsport and aviation industries? And could these industries operate in the same way without using titanium as a saving grace?
Motorsport
In a sport as fast-paced and high-risk as racing, car manufacturers need to make sure they’re producing vehicles that are not only fast, but strong enough to offer a high level of safety for the driver.
That’s why the majority of motorsport car makers opt to use titanium in their cars – because it’s a metal that’s both strong for protection, but also weldable, so it can be moulded into more intricate shapes to meet the aerodynamic and speed needs of the car.
Speed and pressure
With modern F1 racecars reaching speeds upwards of 220mph, these racecars need to be specifically built to withstand the considerable pressure and air resistance generated when travelling at such speeds.
This pressure and air resistance aren’t always consistent, either, and can shift to different parts of the vehicle as it twists and turns around the track, creating strain on multiple parts of the vehicle at once – including both externally and internally.
Because many car body panels are crafted from lightweight titanium, not only are these drivers able to cut through the track and the air at lightning speed, they’re able to do so without fear of the car body faltering as oncoming winds and air pressure grows.
The same is true structurally. Titanium tubes are often used to support the body of motorsport vehicles, offering a fantastic level of durability while keeping the weight of the vehicle as low as possible for maximum speed.
Exhausts
Titanium is sometimes used to craft the exhausts of fast-moving vehicles, particularly motorbikes.
Again, not only are titanium exhausts lightweight, but they’re also exceptionally strong and durable, meaning they can remain relatively unscathed even when they take a nasty bump on the track.
If you’d like to find out more about why titanium exhausts are such a good option for motorsport vehicles, as opposed to other metals like steel, check out our blog here.
Driver and spectator protection
Naturally, in such a dangerous sport as car racing, crashes, fires and explosions can occur, which is why drivers need to have the utmost protection when behind the wheel.
Yet another incredible use for titanium, the durable metal can be used to create protective housings within race vehicles, to not only absorb crash impact but also to protect drivers from small fires or explosions should they happen. They won’t protect drivers completely from these dangers, but the titanium shell can offer enough of a repellent to the flames to give the driver enough time to exit the vehicle safely or be rescued.
Titanium can protect the crowd at racing events, too. By using titanium materials, these explosions become much more contained, preventing projectiles from leaving the vehicle’s body and firing into nearby spectators.
Aviation
There’s a reason the aviation industry is the world’s number-one consumer of titanium and titanium products. To protect passengers from catastrophe and offer the smoothest, most cost-effective flight experience possible, plane manufacturers have been using titanium as their go-to material for years.
The high strength and versatility of the metal allow workers to sculpt plane parts that work in tandem with other metals, while also building safe and sturdy items that can withstand a heavy maximum load and the often unpredictable conditions presented by flying.
Temperature changes
One of the many reasons titanium has become an essential component of air travel is its ability to handle both low and high temperatures and the changes that happen between the two.
Some materials can undergo plastic deformation in extreme temperatures, and most metals will expand and contract when temperatures move from one extreme to the other. But titanium’s tensile strength helps it maintain its structure, making it the perfect choice to craft plane parts that experience these extreme shifts.
Aircraft engines, for example, can be built from titanium to help them continue working even when the temperatures reach untenable levels under which other metals may collapse. With some jet engines needing to keep their composure in temperatures ranging from subzero to over 600C, titanium offers a plausible, lightweight and relatively inexpensive solution.
Titanium can also undergo a heat treatment process, making it even more structurally sound and resistant to changes.
Carbon-fibre reinforced polymers
Because of the excessive weight and pressures presented with air travel, planes need to be built using super-strong materials. And while titanium is very strong, it’s not the only material used in the plane-building process.
Carbon-fibre reinforced polymers are extremely strong reinforced plastics, designed to withstand immense pressures. However, because of their chemical properties, they can be corrosive to other strong and durable metals that have been used in air travel.
Luckily, titanium offers a solution to this problem. Because of titanium’s strength and corrosion resistance, it will not degrade over time when it comes into contact with these polymers, meaning the two can be used together to create plane parts that are durable to a very high degree.
Choose titanium and Ti-Tek for your motorsport and aviation needs
At Ti-Tek, we’re experienced in all things titanium and have been helping businesses and industries of all kinds make the most of the incredible metal for years.
If you need titanium rods, titanium bars, titanium coils or any other titanium products, get in touch with Ti-Tek today – our team of experts would be happy to discuss your project, offer industry-standard advice and present you with titanium solutions to meet your needs whatever they may be.