What’s Titanium Metals?

                                                                              Author: Sally Yuan (titaniumalloy@bjmkgs.com)

Today, we will talk about Titanium Metals. Titanium and Its Alloys.

Metal, all we know,  is a solid material that is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity (e.g., titanium, iron, gold, silver, copper, and aluminum, and alloys such as brass and steel).

Titanium Metals, also a solid materials. but Titanium metals with with very very lots of advantages compare than common metals, like Iron, Aluminum, Brass and Steels, of course, except expensive!

1. Let’s see the brief of physical properties of titanium first

• Titanium metals has similar strength as steel, but with a weight nearly half of steel.
• Highly react with oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen.
• Difficult to extract —- expensive.
• Used mainly in wrought forms for advanced applications where cost is not critical.
• High strength and toughness.

2. After we know its advantages, then let see Applications of titanium metals.

• Used mainly in aerospace, marine, chemical, biomedical applications and sports.
  like, Turbine blades, National science centre, Hip-joint component, Shape memory alloy,  Motorcycle and so on.

3. About Production of titanium alloys

Would you like to know how to produce titanium alloys?

No, you don’t need to know, you just need to remember me, then send email (titaniumalloy@bjmkgs.com) to me if you need this materials. we can provide everything you want.

But the key steps you can see below:

Extraction processes — Melting processes — Casting process — Forming processes — Heat treatments

Ok, above are all we need talking about this article. for next blog, we will talk about the classification of Titanium.

TIG Weld - Filler Wire & Without Filler Wire

After four samples and many many communications. Finally our client accept our sample, for below fasteners with three bolts welded on the plate

It seems simple but the client has high quality on welding portion, especially the welding angle, depth, the roundness of welding seams, even the welding bellow shapes. we were all solved. 

And after resolved all above questions there new problem happened, it was the welding current, we are difference. our welding current is 50A-150A, but the client insist their welding current is 200A-230A. that's really a big difference. and the client starts to worried about our welding strength. 

But our engineers insist that based on our welding method, the materials would be damaged in 200A current. Everything was deadlocked and stopped.

In order to improve our welding strength no problem, we made a test, use one of bolts to hang up a 2 tons titanium ingot. and success. it proved that this parts with three bolts can hang up 6 tons at least. then the result is our welding strength is no problem.

We also test the samples that client provided, all no problem.

But why the big difference welding current but all the welding are OK?

Accidentally, the client took a welding process pictures to me, and we found that it seems no weld wire (fillet wire) during welding. then, all the questions were answered.  

The client weld method is self- fusible, but our method was use filler wire. self-fusible weld asked high current and high temperature, but filler wire weld only 50-150 is enough. 

At the beginning, we were all think that we used the same weld method and ignored it. and after this experiences, we should recognize that we cannot ignore every small details during communication. and should also more on the other side of the position to consider the issue.

Maybe I should prepare an article about two different welding method for TIG Welding. 

Finally, showed the video of that interesting test of welding strength.

TITANIUM ASTM Grade 29 (R56404)

Grade 29 -- Titanium alloy (6% aluminum, 4% vanadium with extra low interstitial elements, ELI) plus 0.08% to 0.14% ruthenium.

Grade 29 titanium is a titanium alloy formulated for primary forming into wrought products. R56404 is the UNS number for this material. Additionally, the ASTM designation is Titanium Grade 29.

It has a moderately high heat capacity among wrought titanium. In addition, it has a moderately low melting temperature and a moderately high embodied energy.

Titanium  Grade 29 Mechanical Properties

Grade 29 Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus

Grade 29 Elongation at Break

Grade 29 Fatigue Strength

Grade 29 Poisson's Ratio

Grade 29 Reduction in Area

Grade 29 Shear Modulus

Grade 29 Shear Strength

Grade 29 Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)

Grade 29 Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)

Titanium Grade 29 Thermal Properties 

Grade 29 Melting Onset (Solidus)

Grade 29 Specific Heat Capacity

Grade 29 Thermal Conductivity

Grade 29 Thermal Expansion

Ti-6AL-4V alloy is the most widely used titanium alloy of the alloy of the alpha-lus-beta class, and is also the most common of all titanium alloys. This modification incorporates extra low interstitials (ELI) and also has a ruthenium addition to enhance the corosion properties. The wrought material is used in applications where moderate strength, good strength to weight, and favorable corrosion properties are required. The alloy is available as wire, sheet, bar, plate, forgings, billet and rings.

Based on this material, the product form including:

1. Sheet, Streip, and Plate (ASTM B265);  
2. Bar and Billet, Annealed (ASTM B348);  
3. Seamless and Welded Fittings (ASTM B363);  
4. Forgings (ASTM B381);  
5. Seamless Pipe (ASTM B861);  
6. Welded Pipe (ASTM B862);  
7. Wire (ASTM B863);  
8. Weld Wire (AWS A5.16 ERTi-29).

Grade 29 Chemistry Composition

N           C           H           Fe           O           Al             V            Ru                Ti

0.03     0.08      0.015      0.25        0.13    5.5-6.75   3.5-4.5    0.08-0.14     Balance

More detailed information can reference ASTM standards.

The application of Titanium in Sodium Hypochlorite

The Application of Titanium in Sodium Hypochlorite

1.    Introduction of Sodium Hypochlorite

Sodium Hypochlorite (or bleach) is a key component in thousands of production and disinfection processes in a variety of industries. It can be used to disinfect drinking water, prevent the growth of algae and shellfish, control odors in water and wastewater treatment plants, and much more.

2.    Materials of Construction

2.1  Storage Tank

Many different types of materials are used for sodium hypochlorite. and the main product use titanium is storage tanks.

Titanium storage tanks are the best choice of material for sodium hypochlorite. . The grade typically used is commercially pure grade 2. Although, the cost of titanium storage tanks is expensive much more than carbon steel or other materials, but titanium tanks can used for there is a very unusual requirement for virtually unlimited service life with no failures allowable.

Titanium Storage Tanks

 For example, Some tanks may only last 3-5 years, others if properly specified and maintained could last 10-15 years. The only material known for over 30 years service life is titanium.

Normally, titanium tanks are used for process tanks to handle special applications such as pressure reactors or small process tanks if time for repairs can not be tolerated.

2.2  Titanium Fittings for Sodium Hypochlorite.

Flanged fittings with titanium bolting should be used if the tank does not have an integrally molded in, full drain fitting for larger tanks.

Titanium bulkhead fittings can also be used but they tend to not be as reliable as a flanged fitting although this is probably arguable as well.

Titanium Fittings for Sodium Hypochlorite

Although PVC fittings are less expensive, but titanium fittings basically last forever. So many installations utilize titanium 150# flat faced backing flange with titanium bolts welded in the flange.

2.3   Other metals in Sodium Hypochlorite

For metals in contact with sodium hypochlorite, the majority of construction for all process equipment is titanium.

Tantalum is used for electrodes in magnetic flow meters and diaphragm seals.

Silver and Platinum is used for electrodes used to measure oxidation-reduction potential.

There should be no other metal in contact with sodium hypochlorite.

2.4   Titanium Pumps

The choice of pumps for sodium hypochlorite depending on the application can be separated into centrifugal and positive displacement such as diaphragm or peristaltic. In all applications, the only metal acceptable is titanium.

Titanium Pumps

One of the best pumps for sodium hypochlorite is a titanium centrifugal pump.

2.5   Titanium Pipe

Lightweight schedule 5 and 10 titanium pipe can be used for very long runs for sodium hypochlorite. These are welded systems with carefully designed expansion joints.

Titanium Welded Pipes

In some larger piping systems, titanium can be a cost effective method of piping compared to a lined pipe system and better performance can be achieved since most flanged joints are avoided. These piping systems are typically only used in sodium hypochlorite manufacturing facilities because of their high cost.

2.6   Instrumentation

The most important item concerning instrumentation is that only titanium, tantalum components be used for contact with the sodium hypochlorite. For PH, ORP and magnetic meter electrodes, silver, platinum, gold, tantalum or titanium are the only materials acceptable if a metal is required.

Titanium Flow Meters

3.    Common Titanium Product Type

3.1  Titanium Plate & Sheets for Storage Tanks, Pressure Vessels, Reactors

3.2  Titanium Pipes for Hypochlorite Pipe

3.3  Titanium Fittings, Flanges for welded systems in Sodium Hypochorite

3.4  Titanium Chlorite Interface, Chlorite Connectors

3.5  Titanium Bolts, Nuts, Washers and so on…

All above is the application of Titanium materials in Sodium Hypochlorite Industrial. If you have any question or needed please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss more!

How to welding Titanium? - TIG Welding Titanium

Do you think TIG welding titanium is hard?  

The answer is YES!

Well, it's hard because there are more things that need attention than with TIG welding stainless steel, Also the rod becomes very gummy when you are welding and it wants to stick on the outskirts of the weld.

Welding Titanium UV Reactor

At high temperatures, titanium becomes highly reactive to chemicals in its environment.In regular air, welding contaminates titanium with carbides, nitrides, and oxides that make the weld and heat affected zone brittle, resulting in lower fatigue resistance and notch toughness.

Based on above important difficulties, we need to do more preparation work before welding titanium.

1) Inspect raw materials.

  
  First of all, we have to ultrasonic testing of raw materials: we require no pits, voids, inclusions, cracks, splits., etc. are allowed regardless of size.

Welding Customized Titanium Fittings

2) Clean, Clean Clean.

•   Remove any oil, dirt, or grinding dust from the surface to be jointed.
•   Remove the last remaining organic compounds just before welding.
•   Joint surfaces must be smooth, clean, and completely free of contamination.
    Weld joints and wire must be free of mill scale, dirt, dust, grease, oil, moisture,
    and other contaminants. Any contaminants introduced to the titanium will degrade
    its performance and corrosion resistance.

Welding Grade2 Titanium Fittings with out flange

3) Using auxiliary tools to fix welding parts

  This can avoid mistake and thermal deformation during welding. 

Welding Titanium Elbows with black flange

4) Using the correct filler wire. 

   With inert gas for protection, to prevent oxygention react with air, welding with TIG machine. The thicker of the housing with the chiker the welder wire and the bigger the current.

Welding Titanium Pipe with ear flange

5) NDE inspection

  
  The welding parts will be do X-ray detection after completed welding.

Welding Titanium pipe with square flange

Three Titanium Welding Mistakes

a) Using the wrong filler metal - Trying to weld titanium with anything other than titanium turns the weld into a hard as glass material. You can hear it cracking before it even cools off.

b) Not shielding the weld puddle adequately - When Titanium gets red hot, it loves to suck in all kind of impurities like oxygen and hydrogen. Once this happens, you are screwed, glued, and tattooed. Game over. The weld has to be removed.

c) Not cleaning the metal - porosity is a problem when TIG welding titanium. Anything on the surface like oil, or dust, will cause porosity. 

welding titanium elbows 90 degree

IMPORTANT!!! BJMK can provide the most professional welding service for Titanium, Tantalum, Niobium, Zirconium and other exotic metals.

If you want to know more about titanium materials, please click our logo to contact us!

Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al Alloy

1.    Introduction

Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al (Ti-15-3-3-3) is one of the mostly widely used metastable Beta titanium alloys in aircraft industries. A wide range of strength levels can be achieved by heat-treating the Ti-15-3 alloy to meet various needs and applications. It has been reported that a tensile strength over 1700 MPa can be obtained through thermo-mechanical treatments of the Ti-15-3-3-3 alloy

Chinese Similar Materials: TB5      UNS R58153

Ti-15-3-3-3 Alloy Plate

2. Chemical Composition

3.Physical Properties

1)    Density: 4.77 g/cm3

2)    Nonmagnetic

3)    Thermal Conductivity: 20℃ -- 6.1     100℃ -- 7.3      200℃ -- 8.8 
                                       300℃ -- 10.4          400℃ -- 12.0    
                                       500℃ -- 13.7      600℃ -- 15.4

4)    Specific Heat Capacity: 20℃ -- 536     100℃ -- 551     
                                        200℃ -- 567    300℃ -- 583
                                        400℃ -- 599     500℃ -- 616       600℃ -- 630

5)    Electrical Resistivity:  20℃ -- 1.45     100℃ -- 1.48      200℃ -- 1.51 
                                     300℃ -- 1.54          400℃ -- 1.57    
                                     500℃ -- 1.59      600℃ -- 1.60

4.    Mechanical Property

5. Other Designations

Equivalent material to grade Ti 15V 3Cr 3Al 3Sn alloy is AMS 4914.

6. Fabrication and Heat Treatment

7. Machinability

Grade Ti 15V 3Cr 3Al 3Sn alloy is hard to machine but can be successfully done using slow speeds, high coolant flow, and high feed rates. Tooling should be performed using tungsten carbide designations C1-C4 or cobalt type high speed tools.

8. Forming

Grade Ti 15V 3Cr 3Al 3Sn alloy can be hot or cold formed. Cold forming is easy to perform. It is strip-producible.

Ti-15-3-3-3 Alloy Bars

9. Welding

Weldability of grade Ti 15V 3Cr 3Al 3Sn alloy is rated as good.

10. Annealing

Full annealing of this material can be performed by soaking at 792°C (1450°F) and then air cooled. The material can be stress relieved at 538-649°C (1000-1200°F).

11. Forging

Rough forging can be performed at 982-1093°C (1800-2000°F) and completed at 816-927°C (1500-1700°F).

12. Hot Working

Hot working enhances the overall ductility of the material.

UNS R58153 Bars

13. Cold Working

Cold working features of this material is same as that of a moderately tempered austenitic stainless steel. Post-work annealing is recommended to re-attain favorable performance properties.

14. Aging

Grade Ti 15V 3Cr 3Al 3Sn alloy can be aged at 538°C (1000°F) for 8 h and air cooled.

15. Applications

Grade Ti 15V 3Cr 3Al 3Sn alloy was primarily developed for airframe applications.

The other application areas include:

l  Aerospace fasteners

l  Tubing and tankage components

l  Flat-rolled products

l  Foil, plate, castings and forgings.

Ti-15-3-3-3 Hollow Bar