Titanium has a series of advantages such as lightweight, high specific strength, high impact resistance, excellent seawater corrosion resistance, good fracture toughness, high fatigue strength, good welding performance, non-magnetic, good sound permeability, excellent cold and heat resistance, anti-radiation, shock absorption and noise resistance, etc. It is known as the “marine metal” and is an ideal and promising structural material for marine engineering equipment.
Titanium and titanium alloys are widely used in the field of marine engineering equipment, such as hull structural parts, pressure hulls of submarines and submersibles, pipes, valves and accessories, propellers, condensers, coolers, heat exchangers in power drive devices, ship sonar domes, propellers, etc.
To ensure the performance of marine equipment and the absolute safety and reliability of navigation, it is crucial to choose the right equipment materials. Titanium and titanium alloys have almost all the characteristics required for marine equipment materials, that is, the many advantages of titanium and titanium alloys.
Physical properties
Lightweight: Titanium density is 4.5 g/cm3, which is only 57.7% of steel. Its application in the field of ships can reduce the weight of the hull, increase the load, and improve the speed;
The thermal expansion coefficient is low, and the welding stress is small, so the welding deformation of the components is small;
It is non-magnetic and will not be magnetized under strong magnetic fields. It can prevent electromagnetic interference, make the mines or torpedoes equipped with magnetic fuses ineffective, and avoid the attack of magnetic mines, thereby improving the stealth technology level and anti-reconnaissance capability of underwater submarines;
The thermal conductivity and heat transfer rate match well, making it an ideal heat exchanger material;
Good sound permeability, the sound permeability coefficient of titanium is greater than 0.85, and even as high as 0.98, which is the most ideal material for ship sonar and deflector;
Good processability, and can produce castings, plates, wires, profiles, forgings, complex parts, etc. through a variety of processing methods such as casting, rolling, forging, extrusion, etc. Mechanical properties
Titanium and titanium alloys have excellent mechanical properties, high specific strength, and good plasticity. In the range of −253~600 ℃, its yield strength ratio and specific strength are the highest among metal materials used in marine equipment; good impact toughness, no obvious tough-brittle transition point in the range of −60~20 ℃; high fracture toughness, between 80~110 MPa·m1/2. High fatigue strength, low stress high cycle fatigue of titanium materials are all above 107 cycles.
Corrosion properties
Titanium has excellent corrosion resistance in marine environment media. Due to the extremely high affinity between titanium and oxygen, a thin, dense, and strong oxide film is easily and quickly formed on the surface of titanium in air or oxygen medium. The oxide film of titanium has a strong self-healing property. When the oxide film is damaged or scratched, it will quickly heal or regenerate to form a new oxide film. This oxide film can make titanium materials almost not corroded by natural seawater.
Titanium alloy not only enables marine equipment to develop in the direction of “deep, large, far, high and low”, but also can fully achieve the same lifespan as the marine equipment itself, making it the best material for marine equipment. Deep-sea pressure hulls, seawater pipelines, gas cylinders, superstructures, frames, etc. will become the key development direction of marine titanium.
Edgetech Industries LLC provides a variety of commercially pure Titanium and Titanium alloys in wire, sheet, bar, tube, and other forms. Titanium expanded/stamped mesh and titanium wire mesh are also available.