Titanium derives its name from the Titans of Greek mythology. On Earth, rocks contain about 1% titanium.
But what exactly do we mean when we say “titanium”?
Titanium Alloys and Their Applications
When we refer to titanium, we often mean titanium alloys. Commercially pure titanium (over 99% titanium) is a low-strength metal (with a tensile strength of 170–480 MPa) and is not suitable for heavily loaded tools or structures.
In contrast, titanium alloys—combinations of titanium with other elements—exhibit very high tensile strength (~1000 MPa for Grade 5) and toughness. They are lightweight, exceptionally resistant to corrosion, and capable of withstanding extreme temperatures.
However, the high cost of processing has limited their applications primarily to military uses, aircraft, spacecraft, bicycles, medical devices, jewelry, and some high-end sports equipment and consumer electronics. The combination of corrosion resistance and an excellent strength-to-weight ratio makes titanium alloys ideal for marine applications.
Which Titanium Alloy Do We Use?
Grade 5, also known as Ti6Al4V, Ti-6Al-4V, Ti 6-4, or TC4, is the most commonly used titanium alloy. Its composition includes 6% aluminum, 4% vanadium, a maximum of 0.25% iron, a maximum of 0.2% oxygen, and the remainder titanium.
Grade 5 offers many advantages: it is heat-treatable and provides an excellent combination of strength, corrosion resistance, and weldability. It is widely used in the aerospace industry and for medical implants.
Is Titanium Brittle?
Generally speaking, materials that exhibit high tensile strength and hardness can tend to be "hard but brittle." However, Grade 5 titanium alloy demonstrates excellent resistance to fatigue and cracking at room temperature, making it suitable for applications such as springs and fasteners.
How Are Our Tools Made?
There are four primary methods for manufacturing titanium parts: CNC Machining, Casting , Forging and Metal 3D Printing.
CNC Machining is an automated process that uses computer numerical control (CNC) technology to shape an object by removing material from a workpiece until the desired shape is achieved.
Casting involves heating metal in a furnace until it melts. Once in liquid form, the metal is poured into a die or mold to create a specific component shape. Forging is a process that applies thermal and mechanical energy to ingots, causing the alloy to change shape while still in its solid state.
Metal 3D Printing utilizes the Electron Beam Melting (EBM) process. In this method, a very fine metal powder is melted by a focused beam of electrons to create the desired shape layer by layer. Due to its high costs, this technique is most cost-effective for producing unique components, such as patient-specific implants, prototypes, and research tools.
Due to the nature of small production batches, all our tools are manufactured using CNC machining.
Grade 5 Titanium Alloy vs. 316 Stainless Steel
In summary, Grade 5 titanium alloy is four to five times stronger than 316 stainless steel while being nearly half its weight. Their corrosion resistance is comparable; however, stainless steel requires more maintenance to prevent rust and corrosion. Additionally, stainless steel has limited options for surface finishes, making it less aesthetically appealing.
Titanium | Stainless | Comment | |
Price | ❌ | ✔️ | SS is several times less costly |
Weight | ✔️ | ❌ | Ti is 40% the weight for equal strength |
Tensile/Yield Strength | ✔️ | ✔️ | Nearly equivalent, grade dependant |
Durability | ❌ | ✔️ | SS has better impact & scratch resistance |
Composition | ✔️ | ✔️ | Wide range of available grades |
Corrosion Resistance | ✔️ | ❌ | Clear winner, here |
Hardness | ❌ | ✔️ | In general SS but it’s grade-dependent |
Chemical Resistance | ✔️ | ❌ | At normal temps, Ti has the edge |
Temp Resistance | ❌ | ✔️ | SS up to 2000°F, Ti up to 1500°F |
Surface Finishes
There are a variety of different finishing techniques commonly used to treat surfaces, remove imperfections, create a uniform appearance, or provide aesthetic options.
Bead Blast: This surface treatment involves blasting with glass beads to remove imperfections and create a fine, matte finish that is visually appealing.
Sand Blast: This method uses fine sand instead of glass beads, resulting in a darker surface compared to bead blasting.
Stone Wash: A straightforward process where stones and the titanium item are placed in a spinning or rolling tumbler, producing a rough finish with small dents on the surface. The surface is even darker comparing to blasting.
Titanium Crystallization: Achieved through heat, pressure, and time, this technique creates a unique crystallized pattern resembling snowflakes, which helps minimize the visibility of fingerprints. No two treated surfaces are identical, adding to their uniqueness.
Titanium Anodising (Coloring): An electrolytic finishing process manipulates the oxide layer on the surface of titanium using electric current, creating an “illusion of color.” Light reflects off both the oxide layer and the underlying titanium at different angles, leading to interference between the reflections. This interference can cause certain wavelengths of light to cancel each other out or combine, resulting in the perception of color. Unlike aluminum anodizing, this process does not require dyes to achieve the color effect.
Different finishes: Bead Blast (left) and Stone Wash (Right)
Different finishes: Titanium Anodising resulted in Red, Pink, Gold, Blue v. Original
Different finishes: Titanium Crystallization (Source)
"Light, Robust, Anti-Rust"
This slogan encapsulates why we choose titanium for our tools. Like all materials, titanium has its strengths and limitations. We are committed to using the best materials available for diving applications while creating aesthetically pleasing, high-quality tools.
What aspects of titanium do you appreciate and why do you choose it?
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