Titanium has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal. It’s as strong as some steels, but 45 percent lighter. Titanium is also prized for its corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance, crack resistance, and ability to withstand moderately high temperatures without creeping.

As a result, titanium is used to make a variety of aerospace components, including structural parts, ribs, fire walls and landing gear. In jet engines, titanium is used for rotors, compressor blades, hydraulic components and nacelles. In fact, about two-thirds of all the titanium produced each year is used in aircraft engines and frames. The Boeing 777 contains approximately 59 metric tons of titanium, while the Airbus A340 has 32 tons of the metal.