Titanium in steel acts as a deoxidizer, helps limit grain growth, and is used to stabilize austenitic stainless steels.

• A. Deoxidizes steel and helps limit grain growth
• B. Increases carbon content to form cementite
• C. Increases electrical conductivity
• D. Reduces machinability

Answer: (A)

Titanium in steel is valued for its ability to deoxidize the melt, control grain size, and stabilize certain stainless steels.

As a deoxidizer, titanium readily bonds with oxygen to form stable oxides (like TiO2) in the metal. This helps remove dissolved oxygen and reduces the formation of oxide inclusions, leading to cleaner steel with better toughness.

For grain growth control, titanium tends to form precipitates such as titanium carbides or nitrides that pin grain boundaries. Those particles hinder the movement of grain boundaries at high temperatures, slowing or preventing grain growth and preserving a finer, stronger microstructure.

In austenitic stainless steels, titanium acts as a stabilizer by tying up carbon (and nitrogen) with carbides and nitrides. This prevents the formation of chromium carbides at grain boundaries, which would deplete chromium and lower corrosion resistance. By stabilizing the austenitic structure, titanium helps maintain both toughness and corrosion resistance.

The other statements don’t reflect these primary roles: titanium is not used to raise carbon content to form cementite, it isn’t added to increase electrical conductivity, and it isn’t primarily used to reduce machinability.