Titanium Dioxide
When the metal has to perform in extremely cold environments, like outer space, or in extremely hot ones, like an airplane engine, titanium can be the only metal for the job – because of its high strength and lightweight. Much for the same reason, it is used in hip and knee replacements, as well as high-end jewelry and even golf clubs.
A compound of titanium and oxygen was first discovered in 1791 by the English chemist and mineralogist William Gregor – who named the new element “Gregorite”. It was independently rediscovered four years later by the German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth, who named it titanium after the “Titans” of Greek mythology.
Today, titanium dioxide is often used to whiten a wide range of products, from paint and textiles to paper. This whiteness is due to the fact that titanium oxide absorbs ultraviolet rays and reflects 96% of light – why it makes our white walls whiter, and why it is used in sunscreen.
Costa Mining titanium and titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide is a very white, opaque compound, used as a pigment in paints, plastics, and paper. It is also used to produce toothpaste, sunscreen, and cosmetics.
Most of our titanium production is destined for the automotive industry, which uses it to manufacture complex mechanical parts. When it is smelted and processed into a metallic form, titanium is light, resilient, and corrosion-resistant. It is used to make seats, valve guides, and precision parts, such as synchronization hubs and assorted mechanical devices. And because it is lightweight, it can also help reduce fuel consumption, letting planes and cars go farther with less impact on our environment.