Titanium (Ti) is an element that in its pure form is a silvery-white metal that is hard, light and shiny, and belongs to group 4 of the periodic table.
Titanium is heavier than aluminum, but is twice as strong, and has a high melting point of 1670 degrees Celsius.
In this technical article, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of welding titanium.
Titanium and titanium alloys are becoming increasingly popular for use in high-tech industries, such as petrochemical, offshore and marine. Titanium is a strong material, weighs little and protects well against corrosion.
It is therefore often used for pipes and pumps, but also for knee prostheses or in watches. This is due to titanium's unique combination of high strength, low weight and high corrosion resistance.
However, welding titanium is not the easiest, as there are strict requirements for the welding process. Therefore, titanium is a material that requires careful control and specialized methods.
Within the Nordic Steel Group, Bergen Rustfri Industri (BRIAS) has extensive experience and is certified to weld with titanium. We can therefore offer titanium processing to all our customers.
In this section, we will discuss welding titanium using TIG welding (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding), plasma welding (PAW), and orbital TIG welding (Orbital GTAW).
Automated or orbital welding provides consistent quality and good control over heat input, and minimal variation in welding characteristics. Plasma welding is suitable for thicker parts because it welds deep into the material, while orbital TIG welding makes it possible to weld complex shapes with a low risk of error (such as pipes and narrow components).
Automatic or orbital welding provides stable results, reduces human error and ensures even heat input .
Controlled heat input reduces structural changes, deformation and residual stresses in the material, and preserves the mechanical properties of titanium.
Plasma welding provides deep penetration, while orbital TIG welding allows for precise welding in pipes and tight geometries.
Titanium reacts easily with oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen at high temperatures. Removing air and using a pure inert gas (such as argon) around the welding area prevents oxidation and embrittlement of the weld.
Strict quality control and inspection ensure that the welds meet the required mechanical and functional standards (such as NASA requirements).
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As mentioned earlier in the article, welding titanium can be difficult. Some of the challenges when welding titanium can be:
Even small amounts of contamination can lead to porosity, embrittlement and weld defects. Gases must be extremely clean, and surfaces must be free of oils, oxides or other contaminants.
Not all welding processes are suitable; for example, MIG welding (GMAW) is considered unsuitable for titanium, due to unstable arc and high risk of contamination.
Manual welding is more variable and dependent on experience, while automated processes require specialized equipment and start-up costs.
The processes often require extensive preparation, specialized equipment, and careful inspection. These processes increase costs, even if quality is improved.
Titanium has low thermal conductivity, which can lead to local overheating, high temperature gradients and structural changes if heat input is not carefully controlled.
If you want to read more about TIG welding, you can read our technical article here .
Welding titanium requires a combination of metallurgical knowledge, precise processes and strict quality requirements.
Advantages such as high strength, low weight, good corrosion resistance and the possibility of precise and consistent welding make titanium attractive for critical applications. At the same time, the material's sensitivity to contamination and heat input requires careful process control.
The use of automated processes such as orbital TIG welding and plasma welding, combined with inert gas protection and strict inspection procedures, enables high quality to be achieved. High quality can be achieved even in components with complex shapes, with limited risk of defects.
Source: NASA (Structural Engineering Division), Great Norwegian Lexicon
