Due to its relative abundance in nature and many unique properties, such as excellent corrosion resistance, acid, salt solutions, and even chlorine gas, the element Titanium is widely used as a coating material, pigment, and additive for other metal products other than being manufactured into pure Ti products.
Titanium is used in steel as an alloying element (ferro-titanium) to reduce grain size and as a deoxidizer, and in stainless steel to reduce carbon content. Titanium is often alloyed with aluminum (to refine grain size), vanadium, copper (to harden), iron, manganese, molybdenum, and other metals.
TiO2 as Pigments, Additives, Coatings and Sunscreens
About 95% of titanium ore extracted from the Earth is destined for refinement into titanium dioxide (TiO2). The compound is an intensively white pigment used in paint, paper, toothpaste, and plastics. It is also used in cement and gemstones as an additive, and in graphite composite fishing rods and golf clubs as a strengthening agent.
Paint made with titanium dioxide does well in severe temperatures and stands up to marine environments.
TiO2 powder is chemically inert, fading resistant in sunlight, and is also very opaque. This allows it to present a pure and brilliant white color to the majority of household plastics made of brown or gray chemicals.
Titanium dioxide is also used in sunscreens due to its ability to protect the skin by itself. Pure titanium dioxide has a very high index of refraction and an optical dispersion higher than diamond. Recently, Titanium oxide has been used in air purifiers (as a filter coating), or in film to coat windows so that when titanium oxide becomes exposed to UV light (either solar or artificial) and moisture in the air, reactive redox species such as hydroxyl radicals will be produced to purify the air or keep window surfaces clean.