Titanium
Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V)
Ti-6Al-4V — ~50% of all titanium used worldwide. Aerospace and medical implant default.
Ti-6Al-4V is the dominant titanium alloy. UTS ~950 MPa with low density. Aerospace structural forgings (landing gear, fan blades), long-term load-bearing medical implants (hip stems, knee components, spinal cages), high-pressure gas cylinders. Specify Grade 23 (ELI variant) for fatigue-critical implants.
Equivalent Designations
| Standard | Designation |
|---|---|
| UNS | R56400 |
| Werkstoff Nr. | 3.7165 |
Standards
ASTM B348 / ASME SB348 (bar)AMS 4928 (annealed bar)AMS 4965 (STA bar)AMS 4911 (sheet/strip)
Chemical Composition (% by mass)
| Ti | Balance |
| Al | 5.5–6.75 |
| V | 3.5–4.5 |
| Fe | 0.40 max |
| O | 0.20 max |
| C | 0.10 max |
| N | 0.05 max |
| H | 0.015 max |
Mechanical Properties
| Tensile Strength | 950 MPa (138 000 psi) |
| Yield Strength (0.2%) | 880 MPa (128 000 psi) |
| Elongation | 14 % |
Physical Properties
| Density | 4.43 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 1632 °C (2970 °F) |
Available Forms & Sizes
| Form | Size Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Round Bar | Ø6 mm to Ø200 mm × length 1000–6000 mm | — |
| Sheet/Plate | 0.5 mm to 100 mm thick | — |
Use Cases
Aerospace structural
Landing-gear forgings, engine fan blades (front stages), helicopter rotor heads. Ti-6Al-4V is ~50% of all titanium used worldwide.
Medical implants — long-term load-bearing
Hip stems, knee components, spinal cages. Specify Grade 23 (ELI variant) for fatigue-critical applications.
High-pressure gas cylinders
SCBA, oxygen systems.
Defence
Armour panels, missile body sections, gun barrels.
Drone propulsion shafts, gimbal yokes
For high-end UAVs.
Design Notes
- Machining is hard: low thermal conductivity → heat builds at tool tip. Use rigid setups, sharp tools, flood coolant. Surface speeds 30 m/min (vs 200+ for SS 316).
- For medical implants where fatigue matters, use Grade 23 (ELI) instead — lower oxygen, higher fatigue performance.