Titanium and its alloys began to be used in industry not so long ago. In the space industry, there were acute issues of reducing the weight of the apparatus, increasing the payload and increasing the strength of the entire rocket structure. A way out was found in 1957. It was then that for the first time, during the construction of the Atlas rocket spacecraft, a titanium sheet was used for sheathing. Since then, the use of titanium alloys and titanium in pure form has expanded to all industries. Titanium sheets are used today in bridge building, shipbuilding and, of course, in the aerospace industry.
Titanium sheet metal is characterized by increased resistance to constant-variable load, is not subject to corrosion and is resistant to aggressive environment. It is the resistance of titanium and its alloys to the effects of one of the most aggressive environments on Earth - ocean water, that made the titanium sheet the most common material in the creation of military naval equipment. Titanium sheet is used in aircraft construction for the production of the most critical parts of an aircraft - wings, air intakes, turbine blades and critical equipment.
Titanium sheet is produced according to industry and state standards OST 90013-81 and GOST 19807-74. The amount of impurities in a titanium alloy is indicated by its marking. For example, VT 1-0 denotes pure titanium, and VT 14 allows the presence of 14% impurity. Impurities are added to titanium alloys on purpose, in order to obtain additional properties, such as high-temperature strength, resistance at low temperatures or increased strength.
The prime cost of titanium sheet products is very high, which is not surprising given its strength and heat resistance characteristics.
