In some TV programs or on the Internet, we can often see how expensive it is to build an aircraft carrier. This is because the construction of an aircraft carrier needs to involve many technical fields and related materials. Therefore, it is not enough to build an aircraft carrier with money, and a strong industrial base and material research and development capabilities are required. It has been reported that a single rivet on the deck of an aircraft carrier can be used to replace a car, which shows how expensive it is. This kind of rivet is not an ordinary rivet. It is a rivet made of titanium alloy material. This kind of expensive titanium alloy rivet is not full of armor plates, but only where the fighter jets are taking off and landing.    Because the fighter jet will spray a high temperature of more than 1000 degrees Celsius when it takes off, which requires the deck to be able to withstand high temperature, and the welding technology for high temperature resistant materials is immature, so the assembly between the decks needs to be completed by titanium alloy rivets.

Titanium alloy is an alloy based on titanium and added with other elements. Titanium alloy material has the characteristics of light weight, high strength, small elasticity, high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance. It is mainly used in aero-engine, rocket and missile components. (Titanium is also used in general industry, and there are many grades of titanium. Different industries will choose the appropriate grade of titanium according to requirements.)

Titanium alloy is a relatively young metal. It has a history of 60 or 70 years since it was developed. After entering the 20th century, traditional steel and aluminum can no longer meet the needs of aerospace, navigation and other fields. Titanium alloy material developed by American company in 1954

Whenever it is mentioned that a product uses titanium alloy as material, it will attract the attention of many people, because titanium alloy is particularly expensive. In the eyes of many people, titanium alloy is synonymous with high-end metal materials. Such precious materials are generally used in aircraft engines, and it is also an ideal material for some sophisticated weapons and equipment.

But in fact, titanium, the main metal that makes up titanium alloy, is not rare. The content of titanium element accounts for 0.45% of the total mass of the earth's crust, second only to iron, aluminum, magnesium and other metal elements. At present, there are more than 140 kinds of titanium minerals known, and the reserves are also very rich.

In nature, titanium exists in minerals such as ilmenite and rutile. Pure titanium is silver gray. At the same time, it is also a light metal. The density of titanium is only 4.54 grams per cubic centimeter and the melting point is 1668 degrees Celsius. It has plasticity.

What really make titanium popular are its own characteristics. As a light metal, titanium has a high ratio of weight to strength among all elements, and its weight is 44% lighter than steel, but its mechanical strength is similar to steel, 3 times stronger than aluminum. Titanium has strong anti-corrosion ability. Titanium will be covered with a dense oxide film at room temperature, which is similar to aluminum.

Its non-toxic and non-magnetic characteristics are also very suitable for industrial production. Liquid titanium can be dissolved with almost all metals, so it can form alloys with a variety of metals. By adding a certain proportion of other metal elements, the smelted titanium alloy can not only ensure light weight, high strength, corrosion resistance, but also have greater strength or stronger high temperature resistance, and even have memory ability. Titanium is a metal that is compatible with human body and is also used in medical fields, such as heart stents, orthopedic titanium plates, etc. Titanium alloys are also widely used in some eyeglass frames, watch frames, and some sporting goods in daily life.

This will involve the smelting technology of metals. Titanium alloys are extremely harsh to the smelting environment, and titanium has low chemical activity under high temperature conditions, so the smelting of titanium alloys must be carried out at high temperature. Generally, the smelting temperature of titanium alloys should be above 800 degrees Celsius, and it should also be operated in a vacuum environment. This smelting environment is much higher than that of steel and other metals. As the saying goes, what is rare is more expensive, and titanium alloy has become the so-called rare metal, which leads to its high price.

Although the output of titanium alloy is low and the price is expensive, it does not mean that it is used less, especially in some cutting-edge weapons and equipment and national key equipment, the use of titanium alloy in various countries is also very bold.

At present, titanium alloy materials are widely used in the aerospace industry, so titanium alloy is also called "space metal". They are light in weight, high in strength and high temperature resistance, and are especially suitable for the manufacture of aerospace vehicles. Many components that used aluminum alloy in the past have changed to titanium alloy.

With the development of technology, the current speed of aircraft is more than 3 times the speed of sound. Such a fast supersonic flight will cause the aircraft to rub against the air and produce a lot of heat. Generally, when the flight speed is less than twice the speed of sound, aluminum alloy can be used for the fuselage. When the flight speed is more than twice the speed of sound, aluminum alloy can't stand it, so titanium alloy with better high temperature resistance and performance must be used. When the speed of flight exceeds three times the speed of sound, more titanium alloy will be used for the fuselage.

Some internal pressure hull, torpedo chamber and other parts of the attack nuclear submarine are made of titanium alloy. Titanium alloy material is non-magnetic, corrosion-resistant and extremely strong, which can effectively resist the shock wave of bombs. In addition, it can dive deeper. For example, China's "Jiaolong" manned cabin uses titanium alloy material, which can dive to the deep sea of more than 7000 meters, which is equivalent to a pressure of 7,000 tons per square meter. The pressure is astonishing.

Now, in addition to the extensive use of titanium alloys in high-precision equipment such as aviation, rocket engines, submarines, warplanes, etc., titanium alloys are also widely used in conventional or individual soldier equipment, such as howitzers, bulletproof helmets, etc.