Is Titanium Magnetic?

If you’re having a hip replacement you might be wondering if titanium is magnetic. It turns out that titanium is weakly magnetic (compared to other ferromagnetic materials) in the presence of an externally applied magnetic field.

Titanium also exhibts the Lenz Effect but to a lesser extent that many other metals. For example, when a magnet is passed over a metal like silver, copper, aluminum, or brass, the moving magnet causes small electrical eddy currents to form in the metal. The electrical eddy currents have their own magnetic field which interacts with the moving magnet. The result is that the moving magnet causes the metal to move without touching it. With more senstive equipment the Lenz Effect could be measured in titanium.

In the video above a magnet is passed over several metals.  All interact with the magnet except the titanium. 

The same effect can be seen when you drop a strong magnet down an aluminum or copper tube. Because of the Lenz effect it will fall slowly.

Note: Bender is 30% titanium!