Businesses in many industries, including aerospace, marine shipbuilding, and military/defense, rely on titanium forgings for various industrial and production uses. The metal is in high demand primarily because wrought titanium alloys have an excellent strength-to-density ratio and offer significant corrosion resistance.
These two characteristics create a durable, reliable material that can function well on land, in the air, and even under the sea – all of which speaks to the versatility of titanium alloys. The benefit of wrought titanium is that it can provide precision parts in custom sizes for specialized applications that require titanium’s strength and versatility.
Here is a brief overview of some titanium alloy forging processes, including the effects of different forging temperatures on the final product.
Titanium Forging Processes
Titanium forging is a set of specialized manufacturing processes used to create parts from titanium alloys. Which process is ultimately used depends on the metallurgical properties of the starting material, as well as the specific structure the forger wishes to create. Some of these processes include
Open Die Forging – Titanium billet material is deformed and pressed into shape in a cavity between two dies. These dies do not completely enclose the material but instead provide a narrow gap to allow excess material to flow out. The titanium is repeatedly punched in the die cavity until the desired shape is achieved.
Closed Die Forging – Also known as press die forging, this method uses high-pressure compression to shape a heated titanium billet. The billet is fully or partially covered by dies that move against each other from top to bottom to achieve the desired shape.
Open Die Forging – Small and/or simple orders can be accomplished with open die forging, a titanium forging method performed between two flat dies without an internal cavity. This is a relatively inexpensive and flexible method but is not the most common method for forging large quantities of titanium metal due to its high labor requirements.
Isothermal Forging – A process in which the starting material and the die are heated to an equal and highly controlled temperature to achieve a high rate of deformation with minimal pressure.
Other types of titanium alloy forging, such as multi-directional die forging, extrusion die forging, partial die forging, and roller ring forging, rely on similar heat, pressure, and unique arrangements of die to achieve the desired shape.
Titanium alloy forging has many advantages, including
-High strength
-Corrosion resistance
-Heat resistance
-Biocompatibility
-Weldability
In addition, a variety of different grades of titanium alloys are used in the forging process, depending on the specific application requirements. When searching for a titanium forging company, make sure the company you are interested in working with can forge titanium to the specifications you require.
In short, titanium forging involves selecting the appropriate titanium alloy grade based on the application requirements, then subjecting the billet to a series of forging processes to create high-strength, corrosion-resistant, and heat-resistant components that can provide many benefits to a wide range of industries, depending on the alloy selected.
The Impact of Forging Temperature
Can titanium be forged at any temperature? Technically, yes; however, the temperature used must match the requirements of the process and the part.
Hot forging is more common than cold forging, but the latter can be cheaper and more environmentally friendly. It is worth noting that lower temperatures (less than 1,650 degrees Fahrenheit) are only applicable to unalloyed titanium, while higher temperatures are necessary for alloyed titanium.
It is not just the temperature of the titanium itself that is critical during the forging process. The temperature of the die must also be controlled, as excessive heat loss or heat variations can cause defects in the part.
The importance of temperature in the titanium forging process is mainly related to the structural elements of the metal at different heats. By forging the correct heat for the starting material and the die, the forger can forge a stronger, more reliable final product.
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