Titanium Frames: Why Are They So Famous?

Choosing the frame material for your eyeglasses or sunglasses is equally important as deciding the shape, lens type, and style. You may have found more plastic and metal frames when shopping for glasses than any other material.

It’s because plastic and metal frames are widely used - making them this popular. However, there is another option you should go for - Titanium! Titanium is also famous in the eyewear industry for its impeccable properties.

So, titanium frames are the best option if you want something lightweight, less prone to discoloration, and highly durable. Titanium frames are more bendable than plastic and metals, ensuring they don’t lose shape over the years.

Let’s find out more about these corrosion-resistant and hypoallergenic frames:

Titanium Frames’ Types

There are two major types of titanium frames:

• Pure Titanium- contains 99% of pure titanium. These frames are lightweight, comfortable, and highly durable.
• Titanium Alloy - also called “bendable” or “memory” titanium, contains 75% pure titanium and 25% other metals. These frames are slightly heavier than pure titanium frames but equally durable and comfortable.

Memory titanium has bendable properties, allowing the frame to return to its original shape. This is an excellent option for careless eyeglass wearers as they won’t have to worry about their glasses bending or not fitting anymore.

Features of Titanium Alloy Spectacles

Titanium alloy frames have good mechanical properties, low density, and high strength. Eyeglass frames made from titanium alloy are highly resistant to moisture corrosion while being lightweight.

Due to its low density, the frames made from alloy titanium are more firm, ensuring that they won’t fall off the nose bridge easily or damage the wearer’s skin. Since titanium alloy has a complex production method, its cost is higher than other ordinary eyeglass frames.

How Can You Identify Pure Titanium Frames?

The high-quality properties, including anti-allergy, anti-fatigue, and corrosion resistance, makes pure titanium frames the first choice of every eyeglass wearer. This includes college students, elites, celebrities, and workers.

But how much do you know about pure titanium frames? How well can you distinguish between fake titanium frames and pure ones? Here are our few recommendations that will allow you to identify pure titanium frames quickly:

1. Check the Weight

If we consider the specific gravity of alloy frames, it is almost 8.9g per cm³. In contrast, pure titanium frames have a gravity of about 4.5g per cm³. Since the pure titanium frame’s amount of titanium is lesser than alloy, it is lighter in weight. This method is one of the best to distinguish between pure titanium and non-titanium frames.

2. Spacer at the Hinge Joint

Observe if there is a space at the hinge joint of the titanium frame. Pure titanium frames do not have titanium in direct contact with the titanium present at the hinges. If it does come in direct contact, poor tension in the temples and wrinkles at the frame's joints may occur.

Typically, two thin spacers are placed at the hinge part of the pure titanium mirror to disconnect the lower and upper hinges. Upon looking at the hinge joint from the inside of the frame, you will find a groove designed to remove the space. So, checking for spacers is another great way to determine a pure titanium frame.

3. Magnetic Reaction

This may sound odd, but you can also use magnets to check for magnetic reactions to identify a pure titanium frame. First, you will have to loosen the hinges of the frame as much as possible.

Then, use the metals to attract them. The temple won’t shake under the magnet’s attraction if the frame is pure titanium. If it shakes, it is not a pure titanium frame.

4. Welding Point

Considering the welding of pure titanium and other frames is another great way to distinguish between pure titanium and non-titanium frames. Pure titanium is welded without the interference of oxygen.

Pure titanium frame making also has a “step” welding mark. In contrast, the non-titanium or alloy titanium frames have “slope” welded marks, and the frames are welded using the spot welding method. You can use this great and useful chemistry concept to buy the best, high-quality, and worth-it pure titanium frames for yourself.

Conclusion

Titanium frames are great for sunglasses wearers with sensitive skin. They have a better texture, pattern, and color that other stainless steel frames don’t offer. Plus, titanium is nickel-free. So, people with nickel allergies can wear these frames. Ensure that you use our recommended methods of differentiating pure titanium frames from others to get the best for yourself.