wrote in message
oups.com...
Don said:

"Titanium, magnesium, and aluminum, being close
"chemical cousins", are
similar in their chemical behavior - Something
that eats aluminum will
very likely eat titanium just as well, and will
probably also eat (or
maybe even cause it to burst into flames...)
magnesium. "

As a "thumbnail" generalization the above is a
fair assumption.

You ought to be aware, though, that Titanium
tubing is used extensively
as sea water condenser tubes; ie. Ti is very
corrosion resistant in
ocean water. You wouldn't want to try that with
Al or Mg, what???

Further, Ti is also MUCH more heat resistant
than the other two: Ti is
used for the skin panels of the SR 71 Blackbird
SST, where, at cruising
speed the skin gets so hot that Al would turn to
the consistency of
putty.

Yet, in thin ribbon form Ti will burn just as Mg
does.....so be careful
with the turning swarf!

Wolfgang


The reason titanium is corrosion resistant is
because it is so active. A new surface immediately
oxidizes to form an adherent coating that protects
id from additional corrosion