SPECIAL MATERIALS

Special materials, which can be perforated but are used only occasionally, are copper and titanium.

Copper is a soft and malleable material. It is an excellent conductor of heat and has excellent corrosion resistance. Its duration in the atmosphere is practically unlimited: after a few days it becomes covered with a brown oxide film which over time undergoes successive variations in shades until it takes on the final antique green color. It can be easily brazed using low melting point filler alloys or welded, without filler alloy, by melting only the ends to be joined. The main types of copper produced are Cu-ETP (electrolytic copper), obtained by electrolytic refining, and Cu-DHP (deoxidized copper), which contains phosphorus. The latter element worsens its electrical conductivity.

Titanium is a metallic element, well known for its corrosion resistance and its high strength / weight ratio. In its pure state it is quite ductile, shiny and metallic white in color. However, titanium alloys are not easily machinable, and the difficulty of machining with machine tools is comparable to that of stainless steel, notoriously the most problematic to be shaped by chip removal. Titanium is as strong as steel, but 45% lighter. It weighs 60% more than aluminum, but has double strength. Due to its strength, lightness, and ability to withstand extreme temperatures, titanium alloys are mainly used in the aeronautical and aerospace industries, although their use in consumer products is becoming increasingly common. Thanks to its excellent resistance to sea water, it is also used for desalination plants.

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