Titanium welding wire is a special material used for welding titanium and its alloys. Due to its excellent physical and chemical properties, it is widely used in high-end industrial fields. The following are the main characteristics of titanium welding wire and its typical applications:
Characteristics of titanium welding wire
1. High strength and low density
The density of titanium is about 4.5 g/cm³, which is only 60% of steel, but its strength is close to that of ordinary steel. It has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and is suitable for lightweight structural welding.
2. Excellent corrosion resistance
The titanium surface is prone to forming a dense oxide film (TiO₂), which shows strong corrosion resistance in seawater, chloride, acidic, and alkaline environments, and is suitable for harsh working conditions.
3. Good high-temperature performance
It can still maintain high strength at 300~600℃, which is suitable for high temperature environments (such as aircraft engine parts), but attention should be paid to high temperature oxidation problems.
4. Biocompatibility
Titanium is non-toxic and compatible with human tissues. It is widely used in the welding of medical implants (such as artificial joints and dental restorations).
5. Low thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion coefficient
The thermal deformation is small during welding, but the heat input needs to be controlled to avoid grain coarsening.
6. Oxidizability
Titanium is sensitive to oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen at high temperatures. Welding requires strict inert gas protection (such as argon), otherwise, the weld will become brittle.
Application fields of titanium welding wire
1. Aerospace
Aircraft fuselage, engine compressor components, rocket fuel tanks, etc., using its lightweight and high temperature resistance.
2. Chemical and marine engineering
Corrosion-resistant pipelines, reactors, seawater desalination equipment, ship components, etc.
3. Medical field
Manufacturing and repair of orthopedic implants (titanium alloy bone plates, screws), dental restorations, and surgical instruments.
4. Automotive industry
Lightweight components for high-end racing cars or electric vehicles (such as exhaust systems, suspension components).
5. Energy and environmental protection
Corrosion-resistant components in nuclear power plant condensers, geothermal equipment, and flue gas desulfurization devices.
6. High-end consumer goods
Sports equipment (bicycle frames, golf clubs), precision instrument structures.
Welding precautions
1. Protection measures
Use high-purity argon (≥99.999%), with a drag hood or argon-filled box to prevent oxidation of the molten pool and heat-affected zone.
2. Cleaning requirements
Before welding, the oil and oxide on the surface of the welding wire and the base material must be thoroughly removed (use a special stainless steel brush or pickling).
3. Process control
TIG (tungsten inert gas shielded welding) or laser welding is recommended to control heat input to avoid overheating.
When welding multiple layers, the interlayer cooling must be below 200°C.
4. Post-weld treatment
Annealing or stress relief treatment is performed as required to improve the mechanical properties of the weld.
5. Material matching
Select the welding wire model according to the parent material (such as ERTi-1/2 for pure titanium and ERTi-5 for Ti-6Al-4V).
Common titanium welding wire grades
Pure titanium: ERTi-1 (industrial pure titanium), ERTi-2 (slightly higher oxygen content)
Titanium alloy: ERTi-5 (Ti-6Al-4V), ERTi-7 (Ti-0.2Pd, enhanced corrosion resistance)
Special use: ERTi-9 (Ti-3Al-2.5V, used for hydraulic pipelines).
The characteristics of titanium welding wire have become an indispensable material for high-end manufacturing due to its lightweight, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility, but its welding process has strict requirements and requires precise control of the protection environment and process parameters. With the reduction of the cost of titanium alloys, their application in new energy, 3D printing, and other fields will be further expanded in the future.
