Titanium Fastener Grades Explained

Some of the new age fasteners such as titanium hex head cap screws and titanium hex tap bolts are becoming increasingly important in the manufacture and assembly of products that have high performance standards. If you are in a position where you need to use any titanium fasteners, it might at first seem simple to […]

Some of the new age fasteners such as titanium hex head cap screws and titanium hex tap bolts are becoming increasingly important in the manufacture and assembly of products that have high performance standards. If you are in a position where you need to use any titanium fasteners, it might at first seem simple to pick one.

However, the truth of the matter is that there are so many different types and grades of titanium available, and you need to be careful with which one you pick. The primary difference between each type is that they have been slightly modified and alloyed with other materials to make them have specific qualities.

You would need to figure out the environment in which you intend to use your fasteners, and then pick a type that has been designed for your specific scenario. In some cases, you can even have them custom made. Out of the more than 40 varieties of fasteners out there, some of the most common of these include:

Grade 2 titanium

This is one of the most common types of titanium, and is considered to be a workhorse in the fastener industry. Grade 2 titanium is also known as commercial pure titanium, owing to the fact that it contains 99% titanium. Some of the instances where grade 2 titanium fasteners would be ideal include in instances where you need very good corrosion resistance such as in environments with a lot of salt water and brine. In addition to that, they are also extremely resistant to other chemicals including chlorides, acid solutions and reducing acids. The fact that it’s also very light and low density also makes it ideal for use in instances where weight has to be minimized.

Grade 5 titanium

Grade 5 titanium has been modified to give it extra strength. It comprises around 4% vanadium, 6% aluminum and 90% titanium. The result is that it has twice the strength and half the weight of comparable steel fasteners. However, it maintains the corrosion properties of Grade 2 titanium, which means that it can be used in all the environments mentioned above.

Grade 7 titanium

Grade 7 titanium is not as commonly used as the two above. However, it is still quite common in the fastening industry, since it has increased resistance against corrosion. This is on account of the fact that it has 0.15% palladium alloyed with it. The palladium dramatically increases the initially excellent corrosion resistance that pure titanium has, which makes it ideal for use in areas where the risk of chemical corrosion are extremely high.

Grade 23 titanium

This is a type of titanium that has been created with improved mechanical properties even at cryogenic temperatures. It is less likely to suffer from fatigue and to crack, which makes grade 23 fasteners ideal for fastening equipment that is likely to be used in such environments.

The next time you are shopping for titanium fasteners, you should remember that there are many different types to choose from. Simply figure out the environment you will use them in, and then choose a fastener that can cope.