Titanium fasteners are well known for their amazing combination of high strength and lightness of weight, but a lesser known characteristic of titanium is its unique corrosion resistance.This makes titanium an extremely useful material for a variety of industrial fastener applications dealing with specialty chemicals, corrosive solutions and saltwater/brines.
Grade 2 Titanium is commercially pure titanium, and is also one of the most common grades for titanium fasteners. This grade of titanium’s unique corrosion resistant properties include:
- Excellent corrosion resistance to saltwater and brines
- Excellent corrosion resistance to chlorides, including wet chlorine (Cl2), bleach solution and sodium hypochlorite.
- Excellent corrosion resistance to hot, highly oxidizing acid solutions (For example, a mixture of iron chloride and nitric acid)
In the case of a material such as titanium – which is resistant to hot nitric acid [which would dissolve most metals rapidly] – it must be non-reactive…. Right? Not so fast.
Titanium is actually a very reactive element and is found in the “Reactive Metals” region of the periodic table. In fact, because of its reactivity, titanium forms a very thin (nanometers) protective surface layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) in the presence of oxygen or water. The formation of the protective film is spontaneous and invisible to the naked eye. Furthermore, it will regenerate if the base material is scratched or damaged – i.e. “self-healing”. Since it forms rapidly, is well bonded and is self-healing, this protective layer is the reason why titanium is resistant to the many industrial chemicals, corrosive solutions and seawater.
So, in a not so obvious way, it is the “reactivity” of titanium that makes it “non-reactive” and enables titanium’s excellent corrosion resistance!
Visit Extreme Bolt & Fasteners to learn more about titanium fasteners and their unique properties.