Explanation of Common Titanium Alloy Grades

Gr1 Titanium Alloy (Commercially Pure Titanium)

Properties:

Softest and most ductile among the commercial pure titanium grades.

Excellent corrosion resistance, high impact toughness, and maximum formability.

Primarily used in applications requiring easy formability, such as plates, pipes, and other structural components.

Applications: Widely used in industries like chemical processing, marine (seawater-resistant applications), and medical implants (due to its biocompatibility).

Gr2 Titanium Alloy

Properties:

Known as the “workhorse” of titanium alloys, combining good strength with excellent corrosion resistance.

Versatile, weldable, and provides high ductility and formability.

Applications:

Commonly used in construction, power generation, and medical industries for a variety of components such as pipes, plates, and structural parts.

Gr3 Titanium Alloy

Properties:

Stronger than Gr1 and Gr2 with similar ductility but slightly reduced formability.

Excellent corrosion resistance and moderate strength.

Applications:

Used in aerospace, chemical processing, and marine industries for applications requiring higher mechanical strength, such as heat exchangers and reactor parts.

Gr4 Titanium Alloy

Properties:

The strongest of the pure titanium grades, offering excellent corrosion resistance and weldability.

Suitable for high-precision applications with strong performance in extreme environments.

Applications:

Often used in aerospace (e.g., aircraft components), heat exchangers, and low-temperature containers due to its strength and performance at elevated temperatures.

Gr7 Titanium Alloy

Properties:

Mechanically equivalent to Gr2, with the addition of palladium (Pd) for enhanced corrosion resistance, especially in reducing acidic environments.

The most corrosion-resistant titanium alloy, particularly for aggressive chemical environments.

Applications:

Used in chemical processing, production equipment, and applications requiring superior corrosion resistance in reducing acids.

Gr11 Titanium Alloy

Properties:

Similar to Gr1 but with added palladium to enhance corrosion resistance.

Provides excellent ductility, cold formability, and weldability.

It is particularly effective against crevice corrosion in chloride environments.

Applications:

Ideal for use in marine environments, chemical processing, and corrosion-sensitive applications such as piping and heat exchangers.

Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5 Titanium Alloy)

Properties:

The most commonly used titanium alloy, making up 50% of global titanium consumption.

Heat treatable to increase strength, lightweight, high corrosion resistance, and good formability.

Excellent strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for demanding applications.

Applications:

Widely used in aerospace, medical implants, marine, and chemical processing industries. Components such as aircraft turbine blades, engine components, sports equipment, and marine structures are made from this alloy.

Ti-6Al-4V ELI (Grade 23)

Properties:

A higher purity form of Ti-6Al-4V, offering excellent damage tolerance, biocompatibility, and fatigue strength.

Its low modulus makes it ideal for biomedical and orthopedic applications.

Applications:

Used in medical implants (e.g., orthopedic pins, screws), dental implants, and other biocompatible components. Also utilized in low-temperature containers and surgical instruments.

Gr12 Titanium Alloy

Properties:

Combines excellent weldability with high strength at elevated temperatures.

Exhibits similar properties to 300-series stainless steels but with superior corrosion resistance.

Applications:

Used in high-temperature applications such as heat exchangers, chemical reactors, and maritime components where resistance to crevice corrosion is critical.

Ti-5Al-2.5Sn Titanium Alloy

Properties:

Non-heat treatable but offers high strength, good weldability, high-temperature stability, and creep resistance.

Particularly effective in applications involving long-term exposure to high temperatures.

Applications:

Used in aerospace and airframe applications, as well as low-temperature applications like cryogenic containers and aircraft fuselages.

Summary Table of Titanium Alloys and Their Uses

Titanium alloys offer a range of properties to suit diverse applications, from aerospace and medical implants to chemical processing and marine engineering. The alloy choice depends on the specific needs for strength, corrosion resistance, weldability, and formability. For instance, Gr1 and Gr2 are ideal for corrosion resistance and formability, while Ti-6Al-4V and Gr12 are preferred for high-strength, high-temperature, and demanding industrial applications.