ABSTRACT
Titanium (Ti), a remarkable metal with a rich historical background, has become a cornerstone of modern technology and industry, with diverse and vital applications in today’s society. This introductory chapter highlights the initial discovery and rediscovery of this metal, first mixed with a grey-black sand containing white fine grains in 1791, in Cornwall, Great Britain, and then in Boinik (in Hungary at the time), as well as the origins of its name, titania, after the Titans of Greek mythology. Challenges in isolating pure titanium are also indicated, as this element is typically found in impure forms, predominantly as an oxide containing nitride and/or cyanide, and the chemical techniques of the early 1900s were insufficient for effective purification. The major breakthrough of pure titanium isolation took place in 1910 by Mathew Arnold Hunter, a milestone that paved the way for its widespread use. This feat set the stage for a more in-depth exploration of titanium's properties and its significance in contemporary applications.
