Titanium
Real Metals · Uncommon · Modern
As strong as steel at a bit more than half the weight, and it corrodes neither in seawater nor in blood. Bone grows directly onto it, which is why hips and dental roots are made of it. The catch is at the forge: molten titanium attacks everything it touches, so it has to be melted and welded under vacuum or argon. That is what you are paying for.
Identity
- Symbol
- Ti
- Atomic number
- 22
- Source
- Natural element
- Used in
- Nitinol
- Also known as
- Ti
- Ores of the industrial age
- Ilmenite, Rutile
- Ore deposits
- Placer deposit
Physical Properties
- Appearance
- Lustrous silver-grey, dark metallic when anodized in vivid colors
- Luster
- Metallic
- Density
- 4.51 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 1668 °C
- Boiling point
- 3287 °C
- Lighter
- Moonstone (Tamriel)
- Denser
- Cortosis
- Magnetism
- Non-magnetic
- Electrical conductivity
- Low
Mechanical Properties
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Tensile strength
- 434 MPa
- Softer
- Steel
- Harder
- Damascus Steel
- Workability
- Difficult
- Brittleness
- Tough
- Malleability
- Moderate
- Ductility
- Moderate
Chemical Properties
- Corrosion resistance
- Very High
- Reactivity
- Low
Lore & Narrative
Named after the Titans of Greek mythology, titanium was discovered in 1791 but remained essentially unusable for 150 years: it reacts violently with oxygen and nitrogen at high temperatures, which made it nearly impossible to smelt with period technology.
- Notable uses
- Aircraft, spacecraft, surgical implants, high-performance sports equipment
- Forge uses
- Aerospace, Medical implants, Armor, Tools
- Worldbuilding traits
- Lightweight, Biocompatible, Modern, Aerospace
Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025: Titanium and Titanium Dioxide, USGS, 2025
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025: Titanium Mineral Concentrates, USGS, 2025
- Ilmenite, Wikipedia
- Rutile, Wikipedia
- Titanium, Wikipedia
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