quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
Most of the world's titanium is in Russia, but at least it isn't fake.

Titanium is far more difficult to shape than just about every other metal or metal alloy in existence. How are these problems not found when trying to work the metal?

I have a piece of titanium, and it is relatively soft. Cutting is probably not a problem, but bending might be.

I believe it is difficult to weld.

I say this because I was having a pair of eyeglasses repaired a number of years ago. When I inquired with the repair technician as to whether the eyeglasses were fixable, he said he could solder monel metal and stainless steel, but not titanium.

Fake titanium is on the Periodic Table of elements. Its called Fakeium. The abbreviation is FU.
The Chinese probably don't care either.

There were a batch of engines that had hairline cracks in the fans years ago. The best known engine failure was Flight 232. Im not saying this was Chinese but the crack was missed during inspection. There is more to the story and it is very interesting.