Fabricating titanium grade 7 plate/sheet into final shapes is a routine process for fabricators. These professionals know that the metal isn’t an exotic substance that demands complex fabrication practices. Instead, they can handle it like other high calibre substances. This is if they take the distinct features into consideration.
Vital differences between titanium and nickel based alloys or steel are ones we must look at here. For starters there is a higher melting point, lower density, and lower ductility. Plus there is a low modulus of elasticity, propensity to gall, and sensitivity to contamination with welding.
Compensation for these enables you to fabricate titanium with relative ease. You can do it using common techniques. Post fabrication the titanium could then need surface treatment or cleaning. What we want to do in this post is go over these two and look at how to do them successfully.
A look at surface treatments
There are various reasons for needing to treat the surface of titanium. The halting of galling and corrosion improvement are some of the most important.
Galling is capable of generating excessive wear with titanium. Not only this, but it might cause faster corrosion via fretting action. Simple lubrication, with molybdenum disulphide or graphite, is often enough here. Thus, it is possible to use the metal for moving components or those parts in sliding contact with itself. It is the same for other metals with light to moderate loads.
With heavier loads though, you need hardened titanium surfaces. There are several hardening practices that can work here, such as nitriding, anodising, ion implantation, and plasma spraying. You could also use coating techniques like the flame spraying of tungsten carbide. Hard chromium electroplating is another option.
Surface treatments like these can be really good as long as you look at adherence. You can get great scuff and wear resistance. But, you need to look at the compatibility of the treated exterior with the corrosive setting to which you are exposing it to. Talk to us if you need titanium grade 7 plate/sheet.
How do you clean titanium?
The efficiency of your titanium surfaces is something you can usually maintain. This is without using elaborate cleaning practices. There is normally no need to clean for corrosion protection. It may be necessary with stainless steel. Also, the thin oxide exterior does not in any way merge with cooling water to create heavy mineral deposits. That can happen with copper based alloys.
Marine fouling of heat exchanger exteriors may be manageable by chlorine injection. Titanium surfaces won’t be influenced by such treatments. In addition, titanium condenser tubing is cleaned in this manner. It is also possible to clean via continual systems using nylon brushes or rubber balls. That will not have any detrimental effects.
Acid cleaning
There are some cases when you need to dispose of deposits on titanium surfaces. Conventional acid cleaning cycles are great here. This is as long as you are using the correct inhibitors. Organic ones like filming amines are not effective. Ferric chloride is extremely efficient. As little as 0.1% by weight is going to hinder the corrosion of titanium via hydrochloric acid.
Nitric acid is a wonderful passivating agent for titanium too. You can use it with hydrochloric acid or alone to clean surfaces.
Brush cleaning
Using carbon steel wire brushes to remove deposits isn’t a good idea. Pickup of smeared or embedded iron particles from the steel is capable of making titanium vulnerable to corrosion when you put the unit back in service. Titanium or stainless steel wire brushes are preferable.
A great thing about titanium is it can supply many years of maintenance free service. However, using the improper cleaning processes can result in failure. It is the same with other abuses. Carefully using preventative measures can prolong the life of the metal.
Order the titanium grade 7 plate/sheet you need
At Brindley Metals, we make sure our customers receive the highest quality goods and services for the best prices. As specialists in our industry, you can rely on us to help you with whatever it is you are after. We only pick quality materials and can offer advice about processing, fabrication, and more.
So, if you need titanium grade 7 plate/sheet or something else, please don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’re happy to assist.