While titanium can be a challenge for precision machining, we don’t shy away from it at Swissturn. Titanium is usually more expensive than other metals as it is rarer than other metals and is bonded to other elements, making processing more expensive.
Titanium is used in many aerospace and medical applications. Titanium components are used in missiles, aircraft, naval ships, and spacecraft. It is lightweight, strong, highly corrosion-resistant, and can withstand extreme temperatures. Titanium is a versatile metal known for its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility- highly resistant to corrosion from seawater, chlorine, and many other corrosive agents. Titanium is lighter than steel, stronger than aluminum, and has a low heat transfer rate. Several grades of titanium are available, each designed to meet specific requirements for machinability, strength, and other properties. CP (Commercially Pure) grades Grades 1, 2, and 5, and 6AL-4V are common grades.
Commercially Pure Titanium Grade 1 is the most ductile and softest. It offers excellent corrosion resistance and good formability. It is relatively easy to machine due to its low strength and is often used in applications that require high corrosion resistance but do not demand high mechanical strength.
Commercially Pure Titanium Grade 2 is similar to Grade 1 in machinability. It is slightly stronger than Grade 1 but retains excellent corrosion resistance and formability. It is commonly used in applications requiring a balance of strength, formability, and corrosion resistance.
Ti-6AL-4V (sometimes referred to as Grade 5) is an alloy composed of 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium. It is the most widely used titanium alloy due to its excellent combination of strength, corrosion resistance, and heat resistance. While it is more challenging than pure titanium grades, it is still machinable with the appropriate cutting tools and techniques.
Titanium alloys are relatively expensive compared to other metals, are difficult to machine, and cannot be run “lights-out” (unattended machining) due to the fire hazard.
Titanium is often used in aerospace applications such as engine components, in the medical industry to manufacture surgical components, and in medical implant components for joint replacement which can help to improve surgical results and increase patient comfort, and also help reduce the likelihood of rejection and adverse responses. The human body can tolerate titanium in large doses because it is not poisonous, making it safe for use in medical procedures.
Titanium is also used in a variety of maritime components due to the dependability and durability of vital parts, as titanium is resistant to seawater corrosion and extreme maritime conditions.
Due to titanium’s strength and lightweight, it is used to manufacture components for the automobile industry to help cars accelerate quicker, handle better, and use less fuel.
