Is titanium flammable? While titanium may be the ninth most abundant element on earth and is used to produce many things, you can’t help but wonder; is titanium flammable? We’ll know all about it and more in this article.
Is titanium flammable?
Titanium is highly flammable, especially when dry. In fact, it is combustible and very much an explosion hazard. It is so flammable that its combustion is spontaneous.
This is because titanium, however, forms it takes, contains a strong metal that is entirely reactive toward oxygen and nitrogen when exposed to elevated temperatures and air.
While fine dust-like particles of titanium will ignite readily, solid titanium blocks may take longer to ignite.
According to National Fire Protection Association NFPA, “a combustible dust is a combustible particle solid that presents a fire or deflagration hazard when suspended in air or some other oxidizing medium over a range of concentrations, regardless of particular size or shape.” This makes titanium a combustible element.
As a chemical element, titanium readily reacts with oxygen at 2,190 degrees Fahrenheit and air at 1,130 degrees Fahrenheit in pure oxygen, forming titanium dioxide. Though several compounds are formed out of titanium, the most important is titanium dioxide.
Titanium dioxide is a nontoxic powder used extensively as a pigment in paints, enamels, and lacquers. Interestingly, titanium burns impure nitrogen gas. It is one of the few elements that can. It reacts at 1,470 degrees Fahrenheit to form titanium nitride, which causes embrittlement.
When it is in its liquid state, titanium is entirely reactive. It is because of its reactivity with oxygen, nitrogen, and other gasses that makes it evaporate from filaments. So titanium is not only explosive but also flammable when exposed to atmospheric carbon dioxide, air, or nitrogen. It also poses a health threat and is quite harmful to humans.
So if you do a lot of work with titanium, Occupational Safety and Health Administration advises that you have a class D fire extinguisher on your premises since titanium fires cannot be put out with carbon dioxide or water.
What is titanium?
Titanium is a silvery solid or dark gray odorless powder used in alloys, aircraft, atomic reactors, and missiles. Its powdered form is used to wield rods, surgical appliances, electrodes, and lamp filaments.
They have also used titanium as a deoxidizer in steel and as an alloying addition to reduce grain size and carbon content in stainless steel, refine grain size in aluminum, and produce hardening copper.
Natural titanium comprises five stable isotopes; they include titanium-46 (8.0 percent), titanium-47 (7.3 percent), titanium-48 (7.3 percent), titanium-49 (5.5 percent) and titanium-50 (5.4 percent). It produces many things, including jewelry, tennis rackets, mobile phones, and prosthetics.
Does titanium react to fire?
Yes. Titanium reacts to fire. It reacts when heat accumulates up to the ignition flash point. In its alloy form, titanium melts into a liquid state during combustion if the temperature exceeds the melting point.
Does titanium catch on fire?
Titanium can catch on fire, especially during mining. This is because it would have been exposed to high heat. In situations where titanium does not combust, it still reacts to fire. The equipment can overheat to a damageable point.
Is titanium metal hazardous?
Titanium metal is hazardous to human health, mainly if you’re exposed to its fumes. It causes the eyes and could melt contact lenses if you wear one during titanium combustion.
It can also irritate the nose and skin if the dust and fumes are inhaled or swallowed. Titanium can cause chest pain, breathing difficulties, and coughing. It also can affect the lungs and lead to diseases like pleural disease.
Since it is carcinogenic, it can cause cancer. Hence, it is hazardous to human health.
In its metallic powdered form, titanium metal also poses significant fire and explosion hazards when heated in the air.
What causes titanium to catch on fire?
Apart from oxygen and air, what causes titanium to catch is that, like most metals, the heat supply is because of friction during milling, which ignites the metal and starts a fire. Unlike steel, titanium does not disperse heat easily from the surface when machined, and it is one metal susceptible to ignition.
What happens to titanium when it gets hot
When titanium gets hot, it burns in air at 1,130 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, producing titanium dioxide, and also burns in pure nitrogen at 1,472 degrees Fahrenheit to produce titanium nitrate.
Final recommendations.
In its metal or powder state, titanium is flammable and can explode. Regardless of how vital this chemical element is, it would be best if you were cautious when using it. In situations where titanium combusts, here’s what you should know;
- The combustion temperature of titanium is very high, so machining with no coolant is very dangerous.
- In case of a fire, ensure to use dry chemicals, sand, or lime as extinguishing agents.
- Do not use water on burning or molten titanium, as it may cause an explosion.
- Poisonous gasses are produced in the fire, including titanium oxide. So ensure you protect yourself from inhaling these gasses as they can irritate your nose.
- Wear protective clothing as containers may explode in fire
- Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. Avoid putting water in these containers.
- Follow the Personal Protective Equipment Standard requirements to learn more about protecting yourself against hazards.
