ThyssenKrupp Magazin

TK Magazine | 1 | 2004 |
Titanium is the ninth most common element
in the earth’s crust, accounting for
0.6 percent of its overall volume. It is,
however, widely dispersed and found only
in small concentrations, usually in ironbearing
ores. Today there are two categories
of titanium: Commercially pure titanium,
which includes less than 1 percent
other elements such as oxygen, carbon
and iron, and conventional titanium containing
up to 20 percent of these elements.
Titanium has numerous applications, including
automobiles, medical technology
and even jewelry. It is extremely corrosion
resistant, strong at minimal thicknesses,
and stands up very well to mechanical and
thermal stress .
Aluminum is a silver-white light metal that
is particularly corrosion-resistant thanks to
a surface oxide layer formed through combination
with air. Due to its high oxygen
affinity, aluminum does not exist as a
metal in its pure form, but it is the earth’s
most common metal within compounds,
making up about 8 percent of the earth’s
crust. Despite its prevalence, it was only
discovered as a metal in 1827, because its
preparation is technically very difficult. Aluminum’s
favorable strength-to-density
ratio delivers strength with low weight and
makes it indispensable in aviation and vehicle
technology.
GLOSSARY 111
Magnesium is a shiny silver (base) light
metal that burns into magnesium oxide in a
glaring white light. When in contact with air it
forms an impermeable cover of magnesium
oxide and thus protects the magnesium from
further oxidation. In nature, it exists in
mineral magnesium compounds, for example
in magnesite and dolomite or in
dissolved form in sea water. Magnesium and
magnesium alloys are now used as
versatile basic materials.
Polycarbonate is a so-called thermoplastic
and belongs to the group of technical synthetics.
It was first produced by H. Schell at
Bayer in 1953 and from 1958 was used in
industrial production. Similarly, D.W. Fox, a
General Electric employee, discovered polycarbonate,
which was then also produced industrially
by General Electric. In concrete
terms, polycarbonate is part of the group of
polyesters. Among its special characteristics
are crystal-clear transparency and extraordinarily
high dart impact strength. It can be
nailed and screwed without splintering – at
temperatures from -40 to +115 degrees
centigrade. It is very well suited to being
used as a protective material in industrial
settings or as side and rear windows in vehicles;
it is transparent, like glass, yet highly
resistant to even heavy impacts. Polycarbonate
has a long lifecycle with high and durable
color fastness, is resistant to petroleum
products, oils and fats, and its electrical insulation
characteristics are very good. Not
only is polycarbonate far more shatter-proof
than glass, but because of its lower specific
weight it can be handled more easily. ckl