Titanium has moved from niche aerospace projects into mainstream EVs, medical devices, offshore systems, chemical equipment and premium consumer products. It offers a rare mix of high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and long-term reliability.
But titanium only delivers full value when it is specified and processed correctly. This article gives OEM engineers and purchasing teams a practical roadmap: when to choose titanium, which grades to use, how to design and fabricate components, and what to expect from a professional supplier.
1. Define Why You Need Titanium
Use titanium where it solves a measurable problem:
- Weight reduction: Density ~4.51 g/cm³, significantly lighter than steel at comparable strength levels.
- Corrosion resistance: Excellent in seawater, many chlorides, marine atmospheres and oxidizing media.
- Biocompatibility: Proven for implants and medical instruments.
- Cleanliness: Low ion release for high-purity systems.
- Temperature capability (for specific alloys): Better strength retention than aluminum at elevated temperatures.
If none of these factors are critical, stainless steel or aluminum may be more economical. Titanium should be a targeted, performance-driven choice.
2. Select the Right Grade
Different grades are optimized for different environments. Typical options:
Grade 1 / Grade 2 (Commercially Pure Titanium)
- Good balance of strength, ductility and corrosion resistance.
- Suited for heat exchanger tubes, plates, chemical equipment, marine parts, housings and general industrial components.
Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V)
- High strength and fatigue resistance.
- Used for structural brackets, high-strength fasteners, shafts, orthopedic and dental implants, performance components.
Grade 7, 12 and other alloyed grades
- Enhanced resistance in specific corrosive or higher-temperature environments.
- Used in wet chlorine service, certain chemical plants and specialized engineering projects.
Start selection from the actual service conditions: medium, concentration, temperature, pressure, mechanical load and design life. Then map to the appropriate grade rather than choosing by habit.
3. Match Product Form to the Application
Choosing the right product form reduces machining waste and lead time:
- Bar / Rod: Machined parts, connectors, fasteners, implants, shafts.
- Plate / Sheet: Structural panels, flanges, brackets, enclosures, medical plates.
- Tube / Pipe: Cooling loops, heat exchangers, chemical and offshore piping, medical instruments.
- Wire: Springs, orthodontic parts, surgical devices, mesh, fine fasteners.
- Foil / Strip: Precision shims, battery components, shielding, flexible parts.
A full-line titanium supplier can align stocked sizes to drawings and advise when a different form or thickness will cut total cost.
4. Design and Machining Considerations
Titanium behaves differently from carbon steel or aluminum. Keep in mind:
- Avoid unnecessarily thick sections that trap heat and increase machining time.
- Use generous radii instead of sharp internal corners to reduce stress concentrations and tool wear.
- Apply tight tolerances only where function requires them; broad tolerances elsewhere lower cost.
- Ensure rigid fixturing and stable setups; vibration accelerates tool wear on titanium.
- Specify required surface state (turned, ground, polished, pickled) clearly, especially for sealing or biomedical surfaces.
Partner with machining shops experienced in titanium; correct cutting data and coolant management are essential.
5. Welding and Assembly
Titanium’s corrosion resistance depends on a stable oxide film and clean microstructure. Poor welding can destroy both:
- Prefer GTAW/TIG with high-purity argon shielding on the weld pool, root side and cooling area.
- Maintain strict cleanliness: remove oil, paint, marker ink and moisture from weld zones.
- Control heat input; excessive discoloration indicates contamination.
- Use matching filler metals and follow qualified procedures, especially for pressure parts or medical components.
Choosing a supplier with in-house or qualified titanium welding capability simplifies project approval and reduces risk.
6. Quality Control, Traceability and Packaging
For critical sectors, documentation is as important as metal:
- Mill test certificates with full chemical analysis and mechanical properties.
- Heat and batch traceability from ingot to finished product.
- Dimensional inspection and, where needed, NDT (UT, PT, RT).
- Clean packaging for medical and high-purity parts; protective wrapping and solid crating for tubes, plates and precision pieces to prevent transit damage.
These measures support compliance with international standards and reduce scrap or rework at the OEM site.
7. Working with a Titanium-Focused Supplier
An ideal partner for OEM programs should:
- Offer rods/bars, plates/sheets, tubes/pipes, wires, foils/strips and custom machined parts across key grades.
- Provide cutting, CNC machining, forming, surface finishing, welding and sub-assembly services.
- Help optimize material selection and dimensions for performance, weight and cost.
- Support both prototypes and volume production with stable quality.
With the right supplier and design approach, titanium becomes a reliable engineering tool—not an exotic risk—helping OEMs build lighter, cleaner and longer-lasting products.