What tools are used for cutting titanium tubes?
Common tools and methods for cutting titanium tubes
Titanium and titanium alloys have excellent properties such as high strength and corrosion resistance, but they are easily hardened or oxidized due to high temperature and mechanical stress during cutting. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the right cutting tool. The following are common methods for cutting titanium tubes:
1. Mechanical cutting (suitable for small diameter titanium tubes)
Metal sawing machine (band saw/circular saw): Use carbide or high-speed steel saw blades, and cut at low speed to reduce heat accumulation.
Grinding wheel cutting machine: Use resin-bonded aluminum oxide or silicon carbide grinding wheels, suitable for fast cutting, but pay attention to cooling.
Lathe cutting: Suitable for high-precision requirements, use carbide tools, and use coolant to prevent overheating.
2. Laser cutting (high precision, high efficiency)
Fiber laser cutting machine: Suitable for thin-walled titanium tubes (<10mm), fast cutting titanium tube speed, smooth incision, but high equipment cost.
CO₂ laser cutting: suitable for thicker titanium tubes, but the heat-affected zone is large, and parameters need to be optimized to reduce oxidation.
3. Plasma cutting (suitable for thick-walled titanium tubes)
Using inert gas (such as argon) as a shielding gas can reduce oxidation, but the cut is rough and requires subsequent grinding.
4. Water jet cutting (cold cutting, no heat effect)
Ultra-high pressure water jet + abrasive (pomegranate sand) cutting, no thermal deformation, but high equipment cost and slow cutting speed.
How to prevent oxidation after titanium tube cutting?
Titanium is prone to forming an oxide layer (TiO₂) at high temperatures or when exposed to air, which affects welding, corrosion resistance, and surface quality. The following are effective ways to prevent oxidation:
1. Inert gas protection
Argon/nitrogen protection: Use inert gas (such as argon) to cover when cutting titanium tube or welding to prevent titanium from reacting with oxygen.
Vacuum environment treatment: High-precision processing can be performed in a vacuum or low-oxygen environment.
2. Pickling and passivation treatment
Immerse in a mixture of nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid (such as 20% HNO₃ + 2% HF) for 5-10 minutes to remove the oxide layer and form a passivation film.
Hydrogen peroxide cleaning (3-10% H₂O₂ solution) is suitable for mild oxidation.
3. Coating protection
Temporary anti-oxidation coating: Spray an anti-oxidant (such as a water-based acrylic coating) after cutting, which can be easily removed later.
Antioxidant: Use a special antioxidant (such as a silicon-based coating) under high temperature conditions.
4. Storage and packaging
Dry and dust-free environment: Titanium tubes should be stored in a dry, low-humidity environment after cutting.
Vacuum packaging/nitrogen packaging: Anti-oxidation packaging is used for long-term storage to avoid air contact.
Summary
Laser cutting titanium tube, water jet cutting, or low-speed mechanical cutting is recommended for titanium tube cutting to reduce thermal effects and oxidation risks. Inert gas protection, pickling passivation, or anti-oxidation coating treatment should be performed immediately after cutting to ensure surface quality. Reasonable selection of cutting methods and protective measures can significantly improve the processing performance and corrosion resistance of titanium tubes.
If you need a more professional titanium alloy processing solution, it is recommended to consult a metal material processing expert or surface treatment engineer to obtain the best process parameters.
