Titanium tubes are widely used in chemical, aerospace, shipbuilding and other fields, and large-diameter titanium tubes (usually refers to outer diameter ≥ 100mm) are more likely to be pitfalls when purchasing because of the high processing difficulty and few suppliers. Today, let's talk about how to avoid routines and buy cost-effective titanium tubes in plain language.
1. Where are large-diameter titanium tubes used?
Customers usually buy large-diameter titanium tubes for:
Corrosion resistance - chemical and seawater desalination equipment, ordinary steel pipes can't stand it, and titanium tubes can be used for decades.
High strength + lightweight - aerospace and ship pipelines must withstand pressure and reduce weight.
Special industry needs, such as nuclear power and medical, have extremely high requirements for material purity.
Before purchasing, clarify:
Material: pure titanium (Gr2) or titanium alloy (Gr5, Gr9)?
Size: outer diameter, wall thickness, length (6 meters/fixed length?)
Process: seamless pipe (for high pressure) or welded pipe (for general use)?
2. The easiest pitfalls when purchasing large-diameter titanium tubes
Pit ① Low price attraction, later price increase
Some suppliers quote ridiculously low prices, but after you place an order, they say "special process requires extra money" and "raw materials have increased in price". Countermeasures: Before signing the contract, confirm whether taxes, freight, and testing fees are included, and state "price locked".
Pit ② Cutting corners
Titanium tubes are expensive, and bad merchants may:
Insufficient wall thickness - 5mm is marked, but 4.5mm is used, and the pressure bearing capacity does not meet the standard.
Substituting inferior products for good ones - using recycled titanium or mixing in other metals.
Countermeasures: Request a material report (MTC) and third-party testing (SGS).
Pitfall ③ Delayed delivery
Large-diameter titanium tubes have a long production cycle (usually 30-60 days). Some factories purchase raw materials only after receiving orders, which delays the delivery until customers collapse. Countermeasures: The contract specifies overdue compensation, and suppliers with spot goods are preferred.
3. How to choose a reliable supplier?
① Look at the factory qualifications
Does it have a titanium production license? (Small workshops may do processing on behalf of others)
Which major customers have you cooperated with? (Huawei, Sinopec, and other cases are more credible)
② Look at the production process
Seamless tube: cold rolling/hot extrusion? The latter has better performance but a high cost.
Welded pipe: Is flaw detection done? Is the weld strength sufficient?
③ Look at the after-sales service
Does it support customized cutting? (Save the trouble of secondary processing)
Can it be quickly returned if there is a problem? (The transportation cost of titanium tubes is high; don’t touch those with poor after-sales service)
Summary
When buying large-diameter titanium tubes, remember 3 sentences:
Don’t just look at the price-cheap ones may be more pitfalls!
The contract should be carefully checked - materials, testing, and delivery date should all be clearly stated!
Get samples first - try a small batch before placing a large order, it's safer!
If you need a free quote or supplier recommendation, please leave a message for consultation! Email:linhui@lhtitanium.com
