So far, the global annual production of titanium alloys has reached more than 40000 tons, and countries around the world are constantly researching and developing various uses of titanium alloys, committed to entering the civil industrial field with huge market potential.

Here's the question. Do you know what are the classifications of titanium alloys? What are the characteristics of each of them? The chemical properties of titanium are so lively, and how complex is its processing technology?

Titanium alloy three brothers

There are three types of matrix structures in titanium alloys (titanium alloy structures with different structures), and titanium alloys can be divided into the following three categories: α Alloy（ α+β) Alloy and β Alloy is represented by TA, TC, and TB in China.

α Titanium alloy - code TA

A single-phase alloy (composed of one type of alloy) has stable microstructure and strong oxidation resistance, whether at normal or higher temperatures. Maintain its strength and creep resistance at temperatures ranging from 500 ℃ to 600 ℃.

β Titanium alloy - code TC

A single-phase alloy (composed of one type of alloy) has high strength and is further strengthened after quenching and aging. However, its thermal stability is poor and it is not suitable for use at high temperatures.

α+β Titanium alloy - code TB

It is a dual phase alloy (composed of two types of alloys) with good comprehensive properties, good structural stability, good toughness, plasticity, and high-temperature deformation performance. It can be subjected to hot pressure processing well, and can be quenched and aged to strengthen the alloy. Its thermal stability is inferior to α Titanium alloy.

Titanium alloys can be divided into heat-resistant alloys, high-strength alloys, corrosion-resistant alloys (titanium molybdenum, titanium palladium alloys, etc.), low-temperature alloys, and special functional alloys (titanium iron hydrogen storage materials and titanium nickel memory alloys) according to their uses.

Titanium alloy processing technology

Vacuum melting technology

Using a vacuum smelting furnace for smelting alloy steel, titanium alloy is heated and melted into liquid through eddy currents generated in the furnace. The advantage is that the entire processing process is carried out in vacuum, which can prevent impurities in the air from entering the metal and produce high-quality alloys.

Isothermal forging technology

The isothermal forging process involves heating the mold to the deformation temperature of the billet and deforming it at a low strain rate.

Titanium alloy isothermal forging technology is a new process that combines thermal mechanical treatment to obtain titanium alloy isothermal forgings with optimized comprehensive mechanical properties. However, the cost investment in mold materials, mold manufacturing, and mold heating devices is higher than that of conventional forging methods, and it is mostly used to manufacture aircraft components.

Cold forming

The processing method of punching, bending, and stretching titanium alloy without heating is called cold forming.

Special processing technologies for titanium alloys include laser processing technology, electron beam processing technology, ion beam and plasma processing technology, and electrical processing technology. Based on cost selection, use these techniques to process titanium alloys.

surface treatment

The process of artificially forming a surface layer on a titanium alloy material with mechanical, physical, and chemical properties different from the substrate.

Based on the characteristics of titanium alloys, modern surface treatment technologies such as plasma infiltration, ion beam, electron beam, and laser beam are mainly used to improve the wear resistance, corrosion resistance, micro motion wear resistance, and high-temperature oxidation resistance of titanium alloys.

At present, the "three brothers" of titanium and titanium alloys are developing towards various comprehensive application technologies. Many scientists around the world are actively researching how to use lower costs and better technologies to increase production, in order to benefit humanity. Let's look forward to it together!