It's avoided in computer heatsinks mainly due to the thermal transfer properties of other metals far surpass Ti. Gold Copper and Silver make some of the best thermal transfer materials. Most heatsinks are made out of Copper for the high end and cheapiest are made out of Aluminum.

 

So when we're applying this to a turbo setup...?

 

Hobie is right on the stress and elasticity of Ti. Its used in components such as jet turbine blades, that see a big range of temperatures, yet must maintain tight tolerances. It has a small thermal expansion coeffecient, but then it also has a small thermal conductivity coeffecient (it expands little with temperature, but it also conducts heat poorly)
People must also remember the Ti is only stronger than steel PER WEIGHT. meaning that if you make a rod of steel and a rod of Ti., the steel one will still be stronger, but it wil weight a whole lot more than the TI one. if you made the Ti rod bigger (in diameter) than the steel one until the weights matched, the Ti one would be a lot stronger, but also larger geometrically.
Ti is only a good option when weight is a bigger factor than strength, size and cost.

(its also a pain in the *** to work with. drawing on it with a sharpie will etch it, due to the chlorine in the ink, and more expensive tools are necessary.)

 

As far as the application of titanium to a turbo.... this is a very good Idea because titanium is MUCH stronger than aluminum, the reduction in weight is a small but measurable precentage, and if the turbine blade is made of titanium, then this reduction in weight will give the blade less rotational inertia thus quicker spooling. I would much rather prefer a titanium turbo, the only downside to titanium in this case and I mean ONLY downside is cost. Titanium is a wonderful material

 

It looks like Evolution Imports threw that same info from japanvehicles.com onto their site and are taking orders on the JSpec Evo VIII already... They certainly don't miss a beat.


--Suave