CP grade 3 titanium is a good choice for many industries, so how much do you know about it? This article tells you some knowledge you must know about grade 3 titanium to help you better choose the right titanium grade.
Basic definition
Grade 3 titanium (industrial pure titanium Grade 3) is a metal material based on titanium with trace impurity elements (such as iron, oxygen, carbon, etc.) added. According to the US ASTM standard, it belongs to the third level of industrial pure titanium (CP Titanium), with a purity of about 99.5% and a total impurity content of less than 0.5%. Compared with Grade 1 and Grade 2, Grade 3 has higher strength and is the category with better mechanical properties among industrial pure titanium.
Core characteristics
1. Balance of high strength and good toughness
The yield strength (about 250-350 MPa) and tensile strength (about 450-550 MPa) of Grade 3 titanium are significantly higher than those of Grade 1 and Grade 2 (both have strengths of about 200-400 MPa), which is suitable for scenarios requiring higher load-bearing capacity while maintaining good impact toughness.
2. Moderate corrosion resistance
Due to the high oxygen content (usually ≤0.35%), its acid, alkali and seawater corrosion resistance is slightly lower than Grade 1 and Grade 2, but it is still reliable in most mild environments, especially suitable for moderate corrosion scenarios with strict strength requirements.
3. Ease of processing
It can be formed by conventional metal processing processes (such as forging, stamping, machining), and the heat treatment effect is limited. It is usually strengthened by cold processing.
4. High melting point and low thermal conductivity
The melting point is about 1660℃, and the thermal conductivity is about 17 W/(m·K), which is lower than stainless steel (about 15-50 W/(m·K)). Attention should be paid to temperature control during processing.
Typical applications
1. Aerospace
It was used for aircraft structural parts (such as brackets and connectors) in the early days. Later, due to the popularity of higher-grade titanium alloys, it gradually turned to parts with slightly lower performance requirements, such as some hydraulic system housings.
2. Medical field
Used to manufacture non-load-bearing implants (such as dental implant bases and surgical tools). Although its strength is better than pure titanium, its biocompatibility has not been significantly improved. Nowadays, titanium alloys (such as Ti-6Al-4V) are more commonly used as mainstream implant materials.
3. Chemical equipment
Linings and pipe connectors of chemical reactors, especially in moderately corrosive environments that require a balance between cost and strength, Grade 3 is an economical choice.
4. Automobile industry
High-end automobile exhaust system components, with its corrosion resistance and high temperature stability, but large-scale application is limited (the cost is higher than ordinary steel).
Processing and use precautions
1. Processing characteristics
– Cold processing is easy to harden, and it needs to be carried out in stages and interspersed with annealing treatment (annealing temperature is about 700-800℃);
– Welding requires inert gas protection (such as argon) to avoid oxidation and performance degradation.
2. Corrosion protection
– Performance is limited in strong acid (such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid) or high-temperature chloride environments. It is recommended to apply anti-corrosion coating or use titanium alloy instead;
– Long-term exposure to seawater environment may cause local pitting corrosion, which requires regular inspection.
3. Cost control
The price is between pure titanium and titanium alloy, about 1.2-1.5 times that of Grade 2, suitable for applications that are sensitive to strength but have limited budgets.
Comparison with other grades of CP titanium
| Property | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 |
| Tensile Strength | 400 MPa | 500 MPa | 550 MPa | 700 MPa |
| Ductility | Excellent | Good | Medium | Poor |
| Corrosion Resistance | Excellent | Excellent | Moderate | Moderate |
| Cost | Lowest | Medium | Higher | Highest |
Summary
Grade 3 titanium is still an important material in some industrial fields due to its characteristics of “upgraded strength and moderate cost”. However, with the development of titanium alloy technology, its share in high-demand scenarios (such as aerospace load-bearing parts and medical implants) has gradually decreased, and it has turned to focus on specific market segments – such as parts that need to balance strength and medium corrosion protection, or mid-range applications that are more sensitive to cost. When choosing Grade 3, it is necessary to give priority to evaluating the actual needs of specific working conditions for strength and corrosion resistance, avoiding cost waste caused by over-design, and preventing hidden dangers caused by insufficient performance.
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