Titanium the Metal of tomorrow

In 1791, the Reverend William Gregor, an English clergyman and mineralogist, reported that he had discovered a magnetic black sand near the beaches of Cornwall, England. The mineral was named menachanite after the local parish of Menaccan. A few years after Gregor's discovery, M.H. Klaproth, a German chemist, separated TiO2 from the mineral rutile. Klaproth named the new element titanium after the giants of Greek mythology. However, it was not until 1910 that M.A. Hunter, …

…strong as titanium alloys. As a white pigment, TiO2's brightness and opacity are nearly unsurpassed. However, a number of less expensive compounds can be used to substitute or reduce the amount of titanium dioxide needed. These alternative materials include calcium carbonate and the mineral talc. With the growing interest in titanium for its strong, light and versatile properties it is fast becoming the metal of the future carrying the human race to greater heights.