Heat treating titanium involves applying high temperatures to make it more workable for manufacturing. Annealing increases ductility, while stress relief reduces stress during welding or forming. Contamination is a critical issue, and titanium alloys are used for maximum hardening properties. NASA uses titanium alloys for their strong, non-melting properties, and they are even used in sword and knife making.
Heat treating titanium is the industrial process of applying extremely high temperatures to titanium so that the metal becomes more workable for manufacturing purposes. The two most common types used today are annealing and stress relief. Annealing is primarily to make titanium resist fracture by increasing its ductility or ability to be stretched into a thin wire. The stress relief method, on the other hand, is primarily used to reduce the amount of stress titanium experiences during welding or forming.
Typically annealing or stress relieving is required to make the titanium usable. Titanium that is not stress relieved can crack after being welded or formed, while that intended for extensive machining usually will not hold up to such heavy machining without first being annealed. Temperatures as high as 1,100°F (593°C) for stress relief and 1,450°F (788°C) for annealing are not uncommon
Contamination is a critical issue in the heat treatment of titanium. Fabrication shops often have separate areas for titanium as this metal is particularly prone to contamination from air, moisture, dust and grease. Other high-performance metals, such as stainless steel and nickel-based alloys, do not require as much attention to cleanliness as they are not as sensitive to contamination as titanium during forming or welding.
It is important to note that pure elemental titanium is rarely used in modern manufacturing as it is a rather soft metal on its own. Titanium alloys, mixtures of titanium with other metals, allow for maximum hardening properties. However, each particular titanium alloy will respond differently to the heat treatment process.
The first National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Shuttle helped the public become more aware of the use of titanium alloys and titanium heat treatment, as the shuttle used titanium heat shield insulation panels to remain resistant to the high temperature. Since the first space shuttle, NASA has continued to incorporate titanium alloys into their designs due to their strong, non-melting properties. Even the makers of quality swords and knives rely on the strength of these alloys. They are even stronger for their weight than steel and are also resistant to corrosive agents such as acids, solvents and bases.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
