There is a fundamental difference between welding, during which the titanium
becomes plastic and able to interact with elements in the local environment
and passing oxygen over the surface of titanium in a stable state.

The metals commonly used in diving breathing apparatus are in a stable state
and secondly not in a particulate state. Titanium readily reacts when close
to the Tg point (melt) or in fine particle form. In either of these cases
then certainly exclude O2 if possible. As for diving regs made of titanium
they can be regarded as inert even when used with high O2 mixes. Yes there
is always a theoretical possibility of a reaction however it is not going to
happen in day to day, dive to dive use as you are entering theoretical
science rather than what actually happens.

The same can be said of course for aluminium, in the state used for
manufacturing cylinders it is a pretty good material and not regarded as a
combustion risk, however should you change the state of the aluminium, i.e.
powder it and introduce it to a combustion reaction then the results are
spectacular and potentially lethal. Aluminium in a post Tg state i.e..
after melting as the Royal Navy found in the Falklands conflict supports
combustion readily.

The good news in support of titanium, which should be of interest to George
and the boys who leave regulators under water for days or weeks at a time
during set up is that titanium is effectively non reactive to both water and
sodium chloride, so if you flood it you only need to worry about abrasion
from salt crystals (and any steel parts inside)



Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: Ben Martinez <bmc00@tc*.ne*>
To: Techdiver@Aquanaut. Com <techdiver@aquanaut.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2000 4:37 AM
Subject: Re: Atomic Regulators (Was Mares ruby titanium reg)


> Maybe someone with a proper background could comment on this subject but
> titanium is a reducing agent a.k.a. a fuel in the combustion process.
This does
> not sound like a good idea for a techdiver's regulator.  I'd assume this
isn't a
> problem for air dives since they are making regs out of titanium but you
know
> what they say when you assume.  I'd think this could lead to serious
problems
> for an oxygen bottle or a nitrox mix with a high FO2.
>
> Maybe a materials guy could comment on this.  I know special procedures
are
> followed for the welding of titanium because of this, but would the high
> pressures in the first stage present the same problems at higher FO2's?
>
> Ben Martinez
>
>
> Ted Phelps wrote:
>
> > What is your opinion of Atomic Titanium regulators?  I already own one,
and
> > while I don't mind (and am looking forward to) getting rid of the Zeagle
> > Ranger, the Oceanic Computer, etc., I'd like to keep the reg unless
there is
> > a good reason not to.
> >
> > Ted Phelps
> >
>
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