Topher_osAUrus
Well-known member
Awhile back I had a guy want to sell me some "titanium" and some other stuff. Asked where he got it, said his dad worked in aircraft before he passed away. I thought I may be able to find some use for it eventually. I had no way to definitively tell what it was, but I knew titanium is pretty resistant to nitric. It passed the simple spot test, So I spent $5 on it.
This is the side that appears to have some sort of phase separation or crystal lattice apparent. The next picture, is of the spot that was freshly ground by the grinder.
I did the "spark test", seen here :arrow: https://youtu.be/T2IFfhN_d-o
Going by this websites guidelines for the spark test results, I am more confused than when I started.
http://www.scrapmetaljunkie.com/241/the-spark-test-and-spark-testing-metals-2
I do not have an accurate scale for its weight, but it is pretty heavy.
(I will try to get a close weight for it)
Its dimensions are 2.5"x4"x5"
It is softer than my pocket knife, so, softer than steel but it was harder than copper when I tried scratching with it.
In my corrosion handbook, it says that titanium is impervious to oxidizing acids like nitric, but attacked by dilute HCl and dilute sulfuric. It does not state how ferociously those 2 acids attack it though.
These are those tests.
Far left spot is 50/50 nitric
Second from left is HCl
Second from right is 50/50 H2O/HCl
Far right is 20% H2SO4
-it seems all of them are doing nothing. That picture was taken 5 minutes after application.
When I get a little time to get back out to the shop, I will do a few streaks on the touchstone and see if that helps the acid work, and the visibility,
Now, I know the likely hood of anyone knowing what this metal is, is pretty unlikely, but I figured it was worth a shot.
For what its worth
When I first got it, I had it shot with an xrf... That was laughable
It said 25% gold, 25% something else, 25% iron, and a couple other things. I knew that was incorrect since his is calibrated for precious metals.
Anyways..
I am open for any and all suggestions, for what it is, OR, further testing procedures.
My plan is to try: the touchstone, and specific gravity -but, while both are flawed, i believe the latter will be pretty far off since I believe it to be an alloy
This is the side that appears to have some sort of phase separation or crystal lattice apparent. The next picture, is of the spot that was freshly ground by the grinder.
I did the "spark test", seen here :arrow: https://youtu.be/T2IFfhN_d-o
Going by this websites guidelines for the spark test results, I am more confused than when I started.
http://www.scrapmetaljunkie.com/241/the-spark-test-and-spark-testing-metals-2
I do not have an accurate scale for its weight, but it is pretty heavy.
(I will try to get a close weight for it)
Its dimensions are 2.5"x4"x5"
It is softer than my pocket knife, so, softer than steel but it was harder than copper when I tried scratching with it.
In my corrosion handbook, it says that titanium is impervious to oxidizing acids like nitric, but attacked by dilute HCl and dilute sulfuric. It does not state how ferociously those 2 acids attack it though.
These are those tests.
Far left spot is 50/50 nitric
Second from left is HCl
Second from right is 50/50 H2O/HCl
Far right is 20% H2SO4
-it seems all of them are doing nothing. That picture was taken 5 minutes after application.
When I get a little time to get back out to the shop, I will do a few streaks on the touchstone and see if that helps the acid work, and the visibility,
Now, I know the likely hood of anyone knowing what this metal is, is pretty unlikely, but I figured it was worth a shot.
For what its worth
When I first got it, I had it shot with an xrf... That was laughable
It said 25% gold, 25% something else, 25% iron, and a couple other things. I knew that was incorrect since his is calibrated for precious metals.
Anyways..
I am open for any and all suggestions, for what it is, OR, further testing procedures.
My plan is to try: the touchstone, and specific gravity -but, while both are flawed, i believe the latter will be pretty far off since I believe it to be an alloy