What is Titanium?
Titanium scrap; Titanium and its alloys have found wide application due to their combination of high mechanical and corrosion resistance and low density, including in the aerospace, biomedical and chemical industries. At the same time, the quality of by-products, such as titanium chips obtained in the processing process, is rapidly increasing, but technologies for recycling these products are limited due to high-temperature activities and processing costs.
One of the useful methods for recycling titanium by-products is hydrogenation. Metal hydrides have several important commercial applications, such as hydrogen purification, hydrogen embrittlement in powder metallurgy, control materials in nuclear reactors, electrodes for batteries, and hydrogen storage materials. Some traditional methods for hydrogenating titanium are:
Exposure to hydrogen gas at high pressure and / or high temperature for several hours.
Slow cooling to maintain the maximum hydrogen content.
Titanium scrap and titanium alloy scrap
Titanium scrap and titanium alloy scrap have different characteristics when it comes to beneficial properties. In addition to the large amount of titanium used, there is also a large amount of titanium scrap and titanium alloy scrap that can be recycled from these various forms. Titanium scrap and scrap made of titanium alloys have proven to be extremely advantageous due to their superior corrosion resistance (brine propeller shafts), their robust yet lightweight structure and their properties at high melting temperatures.
Titanium extraction
Although the current extraction of titanium by the Kroll process is relatively energy-intensive compared to other technical metals, it represents no less corrosion-resistant payback in terms of energy and waste savings from the use of titanium. They manifest themselves as heavier, less strong and less environmentally friendly materials. The development and growth in the use of electrolytic FFC deoxidation processes and reduced energy extraction processes, which are not only an environmentally friendly process, but also consume less energy, continues.
Titanium production
The hot processing of titanium metal from billets or ingots follows similar processes to other metals, but can usually be produced at a lower temperature than, for example, steel or nickel-based alloys. The energy consumption per weight of the processed material is generally the same as for steel, but due to its lower density, the volume of the titanium product obtained is usually 30-40% higher.
Recovery and recycling of titanium
Titanium scrap, which is produced in manufacturing processes and in equipment construction, is completely recyclable. Titanium producers have invested heavily in cold furnaces and other remelting furnaces, which significantly improve the recycling economy and allow the direct use of a comprehensive range of scrap molds. The sustainable value of titanium systems and parts at the end of their service life should always be taken into account when considering life cycle costs. The possibility that the titanium processing plant and equipment remain both clean and corrosion-free means that the reuse of the entire plant or its elements, for example, condenser tubes, can be considered, which leads to greater economy in the manufacture and supply of important bicycles.
The use of titanium anodes significantly increases the environmental friendliness of electrochemical processes such as chlorine production. Titanium anodes are more stable than zinc, lead, nickel or mercury. Activation coatings for titanium electrodes can be changed at different times on the same titanium structure. The process control (safety and consistency) and the process efficiency (energy input per product unit) are very high when using titanium electrodes.
Titanium and the environment
Titanium is one of the most environmentally friendly metals with exceptional corrosion resistance under a variety of aggressive conditions. As a result, it is eliminated or significantly reduced. However, as in all mines, it is possible that some pollution may occur during the recycling of titanium scrap.
Soil, water or air pollution due to corrosion failure of the process plant
Metal loss and energy expenditure for replacement/repair
Contamination by rainwater draining from sidewalks or roofs in architectural practice.
Product contamination by metal loss or cross-flow leakage caused by corrosion.
The low weight of titanium reduces:
Fuel consumption in ships, aircraft and land vehicles, energy loss in piston engines, lack of performance at load, speed, range and other critical factors.
The complete biocompatibility of titanium provides:
Safe use as a tissue replacement and human bone, harmless to terrestrial and marine flora and fauna, non-interference and immunity to microbiological processes.
The ability to recycle titanium provides:
Optimal recovery of all types of recycled materials and scrap can be assessed as an overall reduction in the use of energy to maintain the metal supply.
