#titanium plate

Here’s the titanium hardware that is no longer inside my body. I would never have guessed the screws were colored but it helps indicate size and function/threading to the surgeon.

Titanium plates are essential in aerospace, medical, marine, and industrial applications due to their high strength, corrosion resistance, and lightweight properties. But how are these plates manufactured? This guide breaks down the entire process, from raw material extraction to the final product.

1. Titanium Extraction and Processing

The journey of a titanium plate begins with titanium ore, mainly rutile (TiO₂) or ilmenite. These ores undergo the Kroll process, where titanium is extracted using chlorination and reduction with magnesium. This results in titanium sponge, a purified form ready for processing.

2. Melting and Alloying

Once the titanium sponge is obtained, it is melted in a vacuum arc remelting (VAR) or electron beam melting (EBM) furnace to remove impurities. During this stage, alloying elements such as aluminum, vanadium, or molybdenum may be added to enhance properties for aerospace, medical, and industrial-grade titanium plates.

3. Rolling and Forming Titanium Plates

After melting, the titanium ingot is:

Hot Rolled: The ingot is heated and rolled into thinner sheets or plates.

Cold Rolled: For enhanced strength and surface finish, the plates undergo further cold rolling.

Annealed: Heat treatment is applied to relieve stresses and improve ductility.

4. Finishing and Quality Control

Before the titanium plate is ready for distribution, it undergoes several finishing steps:

Surface Finishing: Processes like sandblasting, pickling, and polishing enhance corrosion resistance and smoothness.

Ultrasonic Testing: Ensures there are no internal defects.

Dimensional Inspection: Verifies thickness, width, and flatness as per industry standards.

Mechanical Testing: Checks for tensile strength, yield strength, and hardness.

5. Packaging and Distribution

Once the titanium plate passes quality checks, it is cut to required sizes, packed securely to prevent contamination, and shipped for use in aerospace, marine, medical, and industrial applications.

FAQs on Titanium Plate Manufacturing

1. What are the main grades of titanium plates?

Common grades include Grade 2 (commercially pure titanium) and Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V alloy), with the latter being stronger and used in aerospace.

2. What industries use titanium plates?

Titanium plates are widely used in aerospace, medical implants, marine structures, chemical processing, and industrial equipment.

3. How does the Kroll process contribute to titanium plate manufacturing?

The Kroll process extracts pure titanium from ores, which is later melted and rolled into plates.

4. Why are titanium plates better than stainless steel?

Titanium plates offer higher strength-to-weight ratio, better corrosion resistance, and superior durability compared to stainless steel.

5. What is the thickness range for titanium plates?

Titanium plates can range from 0.5mm to over 50mm thick, depending on the application.

Get High-Quality Titanium Plates from Accromet

Looking for premium titanium plates for your next project? Accromet specializes in high-strength, corrosion-resistant titanium plates for aerospace, industrial, and medical applications.