Titanium Grades – Commercially Pure Titanium and Titanium Alloys
Titanium Grades at a Glance
Titanium is available in different purity grades and alloys whose mechanical, chemical and manufacturing properties can vary considerably. Selecting the appropriate titanium grade therefore depends on the requirements of the specific application.
Frequently used materials include the commercially pure titanium grades Grade 1 to Grade 4, as well as titanium alloys such as Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V), Grade 7 and Grade 9. They differ in terms of strength, formability, corrosion resistance and suitability for different operating conditions.
The following overview presents important titanium grades, their characteristic properties, common designations and relevant material specifications. Additional titanium materials and alloys can be supplied depending on the technical requirements of the application.
Titanium Grade 1
Common Designations
CP Titanium Grade 1
Titanium Grade 1
Material No. 3.7025 / 3.7024
UNS R50250
Properties and Applications
Titanium Grade 1 belongs to the commercially pure titanium materials (CP Titanium). Among commercially pure titanium Grades 1 to 4, Grade 1 has the lowest strength but offers particularly high ductility and excellent cold formability.
The material provides excellent corrosion resistance and can be readily welded and formed. These properties make Titanium Grade 1 particularly suitable for applications involving complex forming operations or deep drawing while requiring high resistance to corrosive media.
Typical applications include chemical and process equipment, heat exchangers, tubes, sheets and other technically demanding components. The appropriate product form and specification depend on the mechanical and chemical requirements of the application.
Common Specifications
- ASTM B265 – Sheet, strip and plate
- ASTM B348 – Bar and billet
- ASTM B367 – Castings
- ASTM B381 – Forgings
- ASTM F67 – Unalloyed titanium for surgical implant applications
- ISO 5832-2 – Unalloyed titanium for surgical implants
Titanium Grade 2
Common Designations
CP Titanium Grade 2
Titanium Grade 2
Material No. 3.7035
UNS R50400
Properties and Applications
Titanium Grade 2 is a commercially pure titanium material (CP Titanium) and one of the most widely used commercially pure titanium grades. It combines good strength with high ductility, excellent corrosion resistance and good processability.
Compared with Grade 1, Titanium Grade 2 provides higher strength while maintaining good formability and weldability. This gives the material a well-balanced property profile for numerous technically demanding applications.
Typical applications include chemical and process equipment, heat exchangers, piping systems, marine applications and components exposed to corrosive media. Depending on the specific requirements, Grade 2 can also be used for custom components manufactured to drawing.
Common Specifications
- ASTM B265 – Sheet, strip and plate
- ASTM B338 – Seamless and welded tubes for condensers and heat exchangers
- ASTM B348 – Bar and billet
- ASTM B367 – Castings
- ASTM B381 – Forgings
Titanium Grade 3
Common Designations
CP Titanium Grade 3
Titanium Grade 3
Material No. 3.7055
UNS R50550
Properties and Applications
Titanium Grade 3 belongs to the commercially pure titanium materials (CP Titanium). Among Grades 1 to 4, Grade 3 offers higher strength than Grades 1 and 2 while maintaining good corrosion resistance and processability.
Its higher strength makes Titanium Grade 3 particularly suitable for applications where mechanical performance is more important while the characteristic advantages of commercially pure titanium are still required. Its formability is lower than that of Grades 1 and 2, but the material remains suitable for numerous technically demanding components.
Typical applications include chemical and process equipment, pressure vessels, heat exchangers and components requiring increased strength combined with high corrosion resistance.
Common Specifications
- ASTM B265 – Sheet, strip and plate
- ASTM B338 – Seamless and welded tubes for condensers and heat exchangers
- ASTM B348 – Bar and billet
- ASTM B367 – Castings
- ASTM B381 – Forgings
Titanium Grade 4
Common Designations
CP Titanium Grade 4
Titanium Grade 4
Material No. 3.7065
UNS R50700
Properties and Applications
Titanium Grade 4 belongs to the commercially pure titanium materials and offers the highest strength among commercially pure Grades 1 to 4. At the same time, it retains the high corrosion resistance characteristic of commercially pure titanium.
Compared with Grades 1, 2 and 3, Titanium Grade 4 provides higher mechanical strength, while ductility and formability are lower. It is therefore particularly suitable for applications requiring high strength combined with corrosion resistance.
Typical applications include chemical and process equipment, highly loaded components and medical technology. Its suitability depends on component geometry, mechanical loads, manufacturing process and operating conditions.
Common Specifications
- ASTM B265 – Sheet, strip and plate
- ASTM B348 – Bar and billet
- ASTM B367 – Castings
- ASTM B381 – Forgings
- ASTM F67 – Unalloyed titanium for surgical implant applications
- ISO 5832-2 – Unalloyed titanium for surgical implants
Titanium Grade 5 – Ti-6Al-4V
Common Designations
Ti-6Al-4V
Ti6Al4V
Titanium Grade 5
Material No. 3.7165
UNS R56400
Properties and Applications
Titanium Grade 5, also known as Ti-6Al-4V, is an alpha-beta titanium alloy containing approximately 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium. It is one of the most widely used titanium alloys worldwide and combines high strength, low density and good corrosion resistance.
Compared with commercially pure Titanium Grades 1 to 4, Grade 5 achieves significantly higher strength levels. At the same time, the alloy provides an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Its mechanical properties can also be specifically influenced through appropriate heat treatment.
Typical applications include aerospace, automotive applications, mechanical engineering and highly loaded technical components. Suitability depends on component geometry, manufacturing process, operating temperature and mechanical loading.
Common Specifications
- ASTM B265 – Sheet, strip and plate
- ASTM B348 – Bar and billet
- ASTM B367 – Castings
- ASTM B381 – Forgings
- ASTM B861 – Seamless pipe
- ASTM B862 – Welded pipe
- AMS 4911 – Sheet, strip and plate
- AMS 4928 – Bars, wire, forgings and rings
Titanium Grade 7
Common Designations
CP Titanium Grade 7
Titanium Grade 7
Ti-0.2Pd
Material No. 3.7235
UNS R52400
Properties and Applications
Titanium Grade 7 is based on commercially pure titanium and has a basic property profile similar to Titanium Grade 2. The deliberate addition of a small amount of palladium significantly improves corrosion resistance under certain reducing and chemically aggressive conditions.
The material therefore combines excellent corrosion resistance with good formability and weldability. Grade 7 is particularly suitable for applications where the corrosion resistance of unalloyed commercially pure titanium is insufficient under the specific operating conditions.
Typical applications include chemical and process equipment, heat exchangers, piping systems and the chemical processing industry. Due to its palladium content, Grade 7 is primarily used where demanding corrosion requirements justify the additional material cost.
Common Specifications
- ASTM B265 – Sheet, strip and plate
- ASTM B338 – Seamless and welded tubes for condensers and heat exchangers
- ASTM B348 – Bar and billet
- ASTM B367 – Castings
- ASTM B381 – Forgings
- ASTM B861 – Seamless pipe
- ASTM B862 – Welded pipe
Titanium Grade 9 – Ti-3Al-2.5V
Common Designations
Ti-3Al-2.5V
Ti3Al2.5V
Titanium Grade 9
Material No. 3.7195
UNS R56320
Properties and Applications
Titanium Grade 9, also known as Ti-3Al-2.5V, is an alpha-beta titanium alloy containing approximately 3% aluminium and 2.5% vanadium. The material combines higher strength than commercially pure titanium with good formability, low weight and high corrosion resistance.
Compared with Titanium Grade 5, Grade 9 has lower strength but offers better cold formability. This combination makes the alloy particularly suitable for tubes and thin-walled components where both mechanical performance and good forming characteristics are required.
Typical applications include aerospace, automotive applications, hydraulic piping systems, high-strength titanium tubes and other technically demanding components.
Common Specifications
- ASTM B265 – Sheet, strip and plate
- ASTM B338 – Seamless and welded tubes for condensers and heat exchangers
- ASTM B348 – Bar and billet
- ASTM B861 – Seamless pipe
- ASTM B862 – Welded pipe
- AMS 4943 – Seamless hydraulic titanium tubing
Which Titanium Grade Is suitable for which Application?
Selecting the appropriate titanium grade depends on the technical requirements of the respective application. Strength and corrosion resistance are not the only relevant factors; formability, operating temperature, component geometry and the intended manufacturing process must also be considered.
Commercially pure Grades 1 to 4 differ primarily in terms of strength and formability. Grade 1 offers particularly high ductility and good formability, while strength progressively increases through Grades 2 and 3 to Grade 4.
Alloyed titanium materials extend this range of properties. Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) offers high strength at low weight and is suitable for mechanically demanding applications. Grade 7 provides particularly high corrosion resistance, while Grade 9 (Ti-3Al-2.5V) combines strength with good formability and is frequently used for tubes and thin-walled components.
The technically and economically appropriate material must therefore always be selected according to the specific operating conditions.
Further information on strength, density, corrosion resistance and temperature behavior can be found under Material Properties of Titanium.
Titanium Grades – Direct Comparison
The various titanium grades differ considerably in their characteristic properties and preferred fields of application. While commercially pure Grades 1 to 4 primarily vary in terms of strength and formability, alloyed titanium materials such as Grades 5, 7 and 9 provide additional specific properties.
The following overview provides a quick comparison of important titanium grades and serves as an initial guide for material selection. The suitability of a specific material must always be evaluated according to the technical requirements of the individual application.
| Titanium Grade | Material Type | Characteristic Property | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Commercially Pure Titanium | Very high ductility and excellent formability | Formed components, process equipment, heat exchangers |
| Grade 2 | Commercially Pure Titanium | Balanced combination of strength and formability | Plant engineering, tubes, heat exchangers |
| Grade 3 | Commercially Pure Titanium | Higher strength with good corrosion resistance | Pressure vessels, process equipment, more highly loaded components |
| Grade 4 | Commercially Pure Titanium | Highest strength of commercially pure Grades 1 to 4 | Highly loaded components, medical technology |
| Grade 5 | Ti-6Al-4V | High specific strength and low weight | Aerospace, automotive, mechanical engineering |
| Grade 7 | Ti-0.2Pd | Particularly high corrosion resistance | Chemical processing, heat exchangers, piping systems |
| Grade 9 | Ti-3Al-2.5V | Good combination of strength and formability | Titanium tubes, thin-walled components, aerospace |
From Material selection to the Manufacturing Process
Selecting the appropriate titanium grade is closely linked to the intended manufacturing process. Not every titanium material is equally suitable for every component geometry, dimension or manufacturing method. In addition to the required material properties, production quantity, machining requirements and component design must therefore also be considered.
Depending on the material and application, Form & Technik offers various solutions for manufacturing technically demanding titanium components. These include titanium investment casting, titanium graphite casting, titanium forgings, titanium tubes and custom titanium components manufactured to drawing.
Machining and joining titanium also involve material-specific requirements. Further information can be found under Machining & Welding of Titanium.
Frequently Asked Questions About Titanium Grades and Titanium Alloys
What is the difference between Titanium Grade 2 and Grade 5?
Titanium Grade 2 is a commercially pure titanium material characterized by high corrosion resistance, good formability and good weldability. Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V), on the other hand, is an alpha-beta titanium alloy containing aluminium and vanadium. It achieves significantly higher strength and offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. The more suitable material depends on the mechanical, chemical and manufacturing requirements of the specific application.
Which titanium grade offers particularly high corrosion resistance?
Commercially pure titanium grades already provide high corrosion resistance. For particularly demanding corrosive conditions, Titanium Grade 7 can be an appropriate choice. This material is based on commercially pure titanium and contains a small amount of palladium, which improves corrosion resistance under certain chemically aggressive conditions. Actual resistance must always be evaluated in relation to the specific medium and operating conditions.
Which titanium grade offers particularly good formability?
Among commercially pure Titanium Grades 1 to 4, Grade 1 provides the highest ductility and particularly good formability. In general, strength increases from Grade 1 to Grade 4 while formability decreases. Among alloyed titanium materials, Grade 9 (Ti-3Al-2.5V), for example, provides an attractive combination of strength and good formability.
What does CP Titanium mean?
CP Titanium stands for Commercially Pure Titanium and refers to commercially pure titanium materials, particularly Titanium Grades 1 to 4. They consist predominantly of titanium and differ, among other factors, in the permitted levels of accompanying elements. This results in different strength and forming characteristics.
Is Ti-6Al-4V the same as Titanium Grade 5?
Yes. Ti-6Al-4V is the common designation for the alpha-beta titanium alloy known as Titanium Grade 5. The designation refers to its principal alloying elements: approximately 6 percent aluminium and 4 percent vanadium. Due to its high specific strength and versatile property profile, Grade 5 is one of the most widely used titanium alloys worldwide.
Are you looking for the right Titanium Grade for your component?
Selecting the appropriate titanium material depends on numerous factors, including mechanical loading, corrosion requirements, operating temperature, component geometry and the intended manufacturing process.
Form & Technik supports you in selecting a suitable titanium grade and a manufacturing solution tailored to your technical application.