Titanium is a popular transitional metal. It’s used in the manufacturing of all sorts of goods. Examples are sporting products, jewellery, and medical equipment. There are plenty of options, including titanium grade 9 forged bar, grade 5 plate, and much more. You can select the best type and form for any project.
Choosing titanium
There are numerous factors that make titanium a great choice. For example, it possesses the strength of steel but half the weight, whilst also being twice as strong as aluminium. Such attributes, together with its corrosion resistance, make it a vital part of countless products.
Two versions of titanium exist. These are commercially pure titanium and alloys such as alpha-beta. We’ve produced a guide on them to help you understand the differences. Once we are done, you will understand why people prefer alpha-beta titanium over commercially pure in some cases.
When choosing the preferred titanium for your needs, you must consider many factors. Firstly, it needs to meet the requirements to make a first class product. In places like the medical and aerospace industries, lives depend on it.
Secondly, you need titanium that is suitable and cost effective. You don’t want to go over budget. Similarly, you can’t waste money on metal you don’t need. For many, alpha-beta has all the features necessary to make a great product. It can do this while keeping costs down. Titanium grade 9 forged bar is a fantastic choice in this regard.
What is alpha-beta titanium?
These materials are an alloy that combines two elements or more. The outcome leads to a stronger product than what you’d get with the parent elements. Titanium alloys are famous for having two main phases; alpha and beta. They are further broken down into subcategories, like beta, near-beta, alpha, and near-alpha. There is alpha-beta too. It is the distinctions in molecule orientations in these phases that provide titanium with its attributes.
The alpha-beta phase includes alpha and transformed beta molecules. The alloys tend to include elements like vanadium or aluminium. These allow use at high temperatures and wonderful corrosion resistance. So, they work well in aerospace applications.
Alpha-beta phase titanium has many attractive features. These make it sought-after by manufacturers. For example, it is heat treatable and weldable. You can use it in superplastic forming and the hot forming abilities are desirable.
Until recently, the most common alpha-beta phase was grade 5. Besides titanium, this alloy holds 4% vanadium, 6% aluminium, and trace amounts of iron. People dubbed grade 5 the “workhorse”. Compared to commercially pure titanium, it has outstanding strength. But, it retains the thermal properties and stiffness that are so vital. The alloy gives users the best of both worlds and serves many industries well.
Keep your eye on grade 9
When picking titanium alloys though, there is another alpha-beta phase alloy that should be on your radar. We are on about titanium grade 9, available as forged bar and other forms. It includes 2.5% vanadium and 3% aluminium, and is a superior metal to grade 5 in many ways.
Grade 9 titanium is far stronger than commercially pure grades and simpler to work with than grade 5. This is mainly because it can be worked cold. Superb corrosion resistance, moderate strength, and good ductility are other reasons it’s used.
Alpha-beta alloys possess specific attributes. These let them work for the manufacturing of items in many industries. Common examples include marine, medical, aerospace, and chemical processing. Specific products you can make include bellows, automotive, and engine parts. You can also make hydraulic tubes and medical pacemakers.
The alpha-beta alloys, particularly grade 9, can give clients top quality whilst keeping costs low. This is compared to commercially pure titanium. Easier working can also offer savings over options like grade 5.
Choosing your titanium
When you need to choose between commercially pure and alpha-beta options like titanium grade 9 forged bar, the latter provides notable advantages. For one thing, you can heat treat it to improve overall strength. It is possible to use it in welded construction temperatures as high as 600ºF. Also, its strong but lightweight attributes, together with the corrosion resistance, provides the perfect combination.
The primary difference is that alpha-beta alloys are far stronger than their pure peers. They also offer more fabrication potential. There is more malleability and flexibility too. The capacity to withstand heat treatments is an extra bonus.
Alpha-beta alloys can bring all these features together. They can do so without sacrificing pure titanium’s stiffness and thermal characteristics. Grade 9 has strength somewhere between grade 5 and commercially pure grade titanium. It has this whilst being able to work at higher temperatures than commercially pure grades.
Work with our team if you want titanium grade 9 forged bar and more
At Brindley Metals, we’ve risen to become specialists in our field. We make sure that every customer receives first class products. Not only this, but we remain on hand to answer any questions they might have.
So, if you are after titanium grade 9 forged bar goods or would like a comparison with other options, contact us today. We can help you choose the perfect products.