Titanium was first adopted in the chlor-alkali sector, which remains its largest consumer. It is extensively used in chlorine, chlorine oxides, pesticides, and bleaching powder production. Approximately 25% of the total mass of chlorine production equipment comprises titanium components, including:
Metal anode electrolyzers, ion-exchange membrane electrolyzers, and anolyte pumps
Shell-and-tube wet chlorine coolers, chlorine wastewater dechlorination towers, and chlorine gas cooling scrubbers
Brine preheaters, vacuum dechlorination pumps, and valves.
Titanium’s corrosion resistance makes it ideal for soda ash production, where it is employed in:
Crystallization external coolers, distillation tower ammonia condensers, and ammonium chloride mother liquor heaters
Plate heat exchangers, umbrella plate heat exchangers, and carbonation tower cooling tubes
CO₂ turbine compressor rotor blades and alkali pumps.
Titanium equipment dominates this sector due to its ability to withstand chloride corrosion and scaling. Key applications include:
Titanium ammonia evaporators, preheaters, and pre-coolers
Titanium flanges, tube sheets, pump casings, and elbows.
Titanium is critical in producing synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester, nylon, vinylon), enhancing:
Production stability and product quality
Equipment lifespan (reducing downtime by resisting stainless steel corrosion).
In epoxy propane (PO) production, titanium is the only material resistant to corrosive media like liquid chlorine and propylene, outperforming carbon steel, aluminum, and nickel alloys.
Chlorate production: Titanium electrolyzers, anodes, and evaporators are essential, with 15 tons of titanium required per 10,000 tons of sodium chlorate.
Potassium salts: Titanium evaporators and preheaters are used in nitrate/potassium carbonate production (China’s capacity: ~600,000 tons/year).
Other Sectors
Titanium dioxide: Used in film concentrators and calcination kiln feed pipes
Urea: Applied in synthesis tower linings and ammonia strippers
Dyes/Nitric acid: Utilized in heat exchangers, absorption towers, and pipeline systems.
Titanium’s lightweight, high strength, and exceptional corrosion resistance have revolutionized chemical processing, significantly reducing maintenance costs and environmental impact across these industries
