TITANIUM HOW WAR HAS RESHUFFLED SUPPLY OF A KEY AEROSPACE MATERIAL

An essential component of modern aircraft manufacture is the element Titanium, chemical symbol Ti. From sections of the fuselage frame and engine blades to landing gear and the numerous bolts and fasteners that hold sections of the aircraft together, the list of aircraft components containing titanium alloys is extensive.

The aerospace industry has long recognised the properties of this highly tensile metal. Titanium is resistant to heat and corrosion and boasts a high strength-to-weight is particularly crucial in an industry that is eager to find ways to cut down on weight in order to make aircraft more fuel efficient. What is more, titanium can be combined with composites, plastic-like lightweight materials increasingly used in aircraft manufacturing.

The degree to which titanium is used in aircraft manufacturing continues to increase. While the first version of the Boeing 747, developed in the 1960s, included less than 3% titanium, that proportion jumped to almost 9% in the first version of the Boeing 777 which flew in the mid-90s. In contemporary airliners such as the Boeing 787-9, the amount is closer to 15%. More than half of the world's titanium supply is consumed by aerospace manufacturing and any disruption to the supply of this essential metal could sent shockwaves across the industry.