Lightweight and strength are the primary characteristics of a powerful combination of materials. Aluminum and titanium are the two which satisfy the above statement. Resistance to corrosion and tolerance to heat are excellent features of the materials. The reason for the lightweight of the materials is different from one other.
Aluminum vs Titanium
The main difference between Aluminum and Titanium is the mixture of copper in the alloy. The aluminum alloy has less amount of copper, and the titanium alloy has more amount of copper. Aluminum is less complex when compared to titanium. Sometimes more effective parts are obliged in critical situations, for that titanium will make good sense. Aluminum is pretty cost-efficient, while titanium is expensive.
Al is the symbol of aluminum. Aluminum is a chemical element used as a raw material for many products. The atomic number of aluminum is 13. The word aluminum is from American and Canadian English. When compared to other metals aluminum has a lower density of almost one-third of the steel. While exposed to the air, aluminum is a protector that makes a layer of oxide around the products since it has a strong affinity towards oxygen.
Ti is the symbol of titanium. Titanium is a chemical element present in the 4th period, d-block with the atomic number 22. In 1791, the clergyman and amateur geologist William Gregor discovered the titanium. Pure titanium is discovered by Anton Eduard van Arkel and Jan Hendrik de Boer using iodiate process in 1925. Martin Heinrich Klaproth is the one who named the metal titanium. In Daltons, the atomic weight of titanium is 47.867. The outer appearance of titanium is silver-grey-white metallic.
Comparison Table Between Aluminum and Titanium
| Parameters of comparison | Aluminum | Titanium |
| Symbol | Symbol of aluminum- Al | Symbol of titanium-Ti |
| Boiling point | The boiling point of aluminum is 2470 °C | The boiling point of titanium is 3287 °C |
| Melting point | The melting point of aluminum is 660.32 °C | The melting point of titanium is 1668 °C |
| Atomic Number | The atomic number of aluminum is 13 | The atomic number of titanium is 22 |
| Block | The aluminum is present in p-block | Titanium is present in d-block |
| Atomic radius | The atomic radius of aluminum is 143 pm | The atomic radius of titanium is 147 pm |
What is Aluminum?
Aluminum is a chemical element, and the historian Herodotus made the first written proof of aluminum’s presence on the Earth. The first statue made of aluminum was placed in London, and the name of the statue is The statue of Anteros. Silver-gray metallic is the outer appearance of aluminum. It is present in the third period and p block in the chemical table with the atomic number 13. Aluminum has a great ability to reflect light which resembles silver in its color.
The melting point of aluminum is 660 degrees Celsius, and 2470 degrees Celsius is the boiling point of aluminum. Aluminum is the twelfth most common element in the universe. Ductile, soft, and non-magnetic are some characteristics of aluminum. Aluminum has one stable isotope that is 27Al. In the boron group, aluminum is the weakest element when compared to other metals in that group. In radio dating, the 27Al isotope is used as a radioactivity element.
The Danish physicist is the one who announced the discovery the aluminum in 1825. Aluminum is primarily found in the outer layer of the rocks due to its affinity towards oxygen which makes the oxide layer. After oxygen and silicon, aluminum is the third most abundant element in the universe. In 1856, aluminum was used in industrial production by a French chemist. For aviation in both the World wars, aluminum is a strategic metal and crucial resource.
What is Titanium?
Titanium is a high-strength metal that is resistant to corrosion and tolerant to heat. Titanium has a low density with a silver color look. Only in countable minerals, the deposits of titanium are founded specially in rutile and ilmenite. It is present in Earth’s crust and in the layer of the lithosphere. All living things, water bodies, and soil have the presence of titanium. The process called Kroll and Hunter is the primary process used in the extraction of titanium from the Earth’s crust.
Titanium is one of the popular metals on Earth. Titanium dioxide is a photocatalyst used to produce white pigments. In the production of polypropylene, titanium trichloride is used. Titanium tetrachloride is a vital component in the production of smoke screens. The melting point of titanium is 1668 °C, and the boiling point of titanium is 3287 °C. The atomic radius of titanium is 147 pm. It has a strong ability to alloy with various metals like iron, vanadium, and molybdenum.
The titanium alloy is used to produce jet engines and space crafts. It is also used in various fields for various purposes. It is used in industries, agriculture, medical and sports applications. The corrosion resistance and strength to density ratio is the highest property in titanium when compared to other metals. It has a less dense but strong nature in unalloyed conditions. Titanium has five naturally occurring isotopes with two allotrophic forms.
Main Differences Between Aluminum and Titanium
- The third most abundant element on the earth is aluminum and the ninth most abundant element on the earth is titanium.
- Aluminum is a non-magnetic metal whereas titanium is a paramagnetic metal.
- In a chemical table, aluminum is considered a metal, and titanium is considered a transition metal.
- If the strength of aluminum is one then the strength of titanium is two, which means titanium has double the strength of aluminum.
- When compared to aluminum, titanium has 60% greater strength.
Conclusion
Aluminum and titanium are largely used elements nowadays. Both of them are available in the earth’s crust and are abundant in nature. Aluminum is cheap and titanium is expensive when compared. Both the metals have similar appearances with different properties. Aluminum is used in every production of industries and all other things. It is the third most abundant element in the universe. Titanium has primary uses as a catalyst in alloy state which is the ninth abundant element in the universe. Both of them have unique properties and characteristics.
References
- https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF02647559.pdf
- https://search.proquest.com/openview/53b3e56c0d5c5d47cea753d93a4dadf5/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=29360