Titanium products - From the outer space to the shelf of your kitchen

As a general trend, titanium products are a new thing regarding the use and consumption of titanium. It’s been around a decade since prices in manufacturing and processing of the metal got to the low point at which it was acceptable and efficient to use it in consumer applications. Now this segment represent around 15% of the titanium market and has the fastest growth ratio of all, approximately double of the growth of titanium market in general.

Titanium superior ratio of weight to strength regarding any other metals made that one of the first titanium products come from the sports area, the first major application being in bicycles. Major use was in tubing for the frames, and other parts made from titanium alloys being brakes, cassettes, seat springs. The success and superior qualities of titanium tubing, especially in road bikes have also sparked the interest of wheelchairs manufacturers.

The next contender from sport field was represented by titanium golf clubs, mainly due to the same old strength to weight ratio. Use of titanium alloys for manufacturing golf clubs first started in the end of 80s by Japanese golf manufacturers. In a very short period of time titanium clubs went from exclusive and expensive tools of small group of players to the clubs of the mainstream players (though they are still more expensive than steel clubs). The golf market has also been approached by titanium golf balls

Titanium entered the cookware market through a backdoor, actually. Initially, it was used for diving knives, for which titanium was a natural solution due to its quasi-inertia with marine environment. The next logical step was to be used in more common knives and other household items, though usually these are rarely made entirely of titanium, but rather from steel with a titanium coating. The main advantages of titanium – strength and lightness -are not as important in the common kitchen. Mountaineers do value titanium cook sets and utensils though, and they are also more likely to be familiar with them as titanium fasteners, ice screws and ice picks have long been designed as one of their most endeared applications.

Titanium is widely used in medicine already for many years. Advantages are strength, corrosion resistance, and main reason is that, while there are many people is allergic to nickel, component of stainless steel, titanium is virtually allergy free. Common applications are surgical instruments, dental and other body implants, including in critical places such as heart valves.

Consumer electronics is very new, but fast growing market for titanium. In many cases titanium is used in consumer electronics products not only for its superior properties, but for its unique appearance, so is being used for making cases of notebook computers and cell phones and other electronic equipment.

Titanium eyeglass frames are a somewhat new application, trying to take advantage of the strong, lightweight and flexible solution that titanium can provide.

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