Titanium Grade Overview(2)
Ti 6AL-4V ELI (Grade 23)
Grade 23 Surgical Titanium
Ti 6AL-4V ELI, or Grade 23, is the higher purity version of Ti 6Al-4V. It can be made into coils, strands, wires or flat wires. It’s the top choice for any sort of situation where a combination of high strength, light weight, good corrosion resistance and high toughness are required. It has a superior damage tolerance to other alloys.
These benefits make Grade 23 the ultimate dental and medical titanium grade. It can be used in biomedical applications such as implantable components due to its biocompatibility, good fatigue strength and low modulus. It can also be used in detailed surgical procedures, as:
- Orthopedic pins and screws
- Orthopedic cables
- Ligature clips
- Surgical staples
- Springs
- Orthodontic appliances
- In joint replacements
- Cryogenic vessels
- Bone fixation devices
Grade 12
Grade 12 Titanium Applications
Grade 12 titanium holds an “excellent” rating for its high quality weldability. It is a highly durable alloy that provides a lot of strength at high temperatures. Grade 12 titanium possesses characteristics similar to 300 series stainless steels.
This alloy can be hot or cold formed using press brake forming, hydropress forming, stretch forming or drop hammer method. Its ability to be formed in a variety of ways makes it useful in many applications. This alloy’s high corrosion resistance also makes it invaluable to those manufacturing equipment where crevice corrosion is a concern. Grade 12 can be used in the following industries and applications:
- Shell and heat exchangers
- Hydrometallurgical applications
- Elevated temperature chemical manufacturing
- Marine and airfare components
Ti 5Al-2.5Sn
Ti 5Al-2.5Sn is a non-heat treatable alloy that can achieve good weldability with stability. It also possesses high temperature stability, high strength, good corrosion resistance and good creep resistance. Creep refers to the phenomenon of plastic strain over long periods of time, which happens at high temperatures.
Ti 5Al-2.5Sn is mostly used in aircraft and airframe applications, as well as cryogenic applications.
Definitions
Titanium Bar Stock
Drop hammer method – The use of a machine consisting of an anvil or base aligned with a hammer that is raised and then dropped on molten metal, in order to forge or stamp the metal.
Ductility – A metal’s ability to be easily drawn into wire or hammered thin; easily molded or shaped.
Fabricality – Refers to a metal’s ability to be used to create machinery, structures, and other equipment, via being shaped and assembled.
Formability – A metal’s ability to be manipulated into various forms and shapes.
Hydropress Forming - The pressure exerted by a rubber press head forms a sheet of metal to the configuration of the tool – shaping the metal.
Interstitial Elements – “Impurities” found in pure metals, sometimes adding benefits to the alloy.
Press Brake Forming – A machine used to bend sheet metal into whatever form is called for.
Stretch form method – A technique in which the heated metal sheet is stretched over the mold and then cooled into shape.
