Why is Titanium Expensive? An Insight

Titanium is one of the most premium metals used in manufacturing industries. Its premium value enhances its price, making it less suitable for budget-friendly projects. But there remains a question: Why is titanium expensive? Guess what? The cost of machining a titanium workpiece is around three times that of aluminum!

 

So, the question is valid and can confuse someone new to the manufacturing industry. Remember, titanium has several desired properties that make it stand out. For example, it is rugged but surprisingly light. Similarly, its corrosion resistance, durability, and biocompatibility make it stand out.

 

This is the initial teaser—our topic requires a detailed answer and explanation. But worry not! You’ll learn all the reasons why titanium is costly for CNC machining. So, buckle up as we dive deep and explore all the factors that make titanium super premium.

 

Titanium Grades and Prices

 

There are various titanium alloys (grades) available in the market. These grades vary in chemical composition, and the prices of these grades differ depending on the titanium content. Let’s first discuss different grades of titanium. Later, we will discuss the factors that make titanium expensive for CNC machining.

 

1- Grade 5 Titanium – Titanium 6Al-4V

Titanium grade 5 alloy contains 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium. It is widely available commercially and offers excellent strength and toughness. This metal finds application in aeronautical fields, marine settings, chemical plants, and healthcare. This grade has around 90% titanium, which enhances its value.

 

2- Grade 6 Titanium – Titanium 5Al-2.5Sn

This titanium alloy offers good temperature coefficients. Why? The reason is that it has a 5% aluminum and 2.5% tin composition. It means that it remains stable at very high temperatures. It has around 93% of titanium, making it more valuable than grade 5. Manufacturers supply it in various shapes, such as wires and sheets. Titanium of grade 6 is often used in aviation and automotive sectors.

 

3- Grade 9 Titanium – Titanium 3Al-2.5V

Grade 9 titanium contains 3% aluminum, 2.5% Vanadium, and around 94% titanium. This form of titanium has moderate strength and is mainly used in piping systems. Compared to other grades, it falls intermediate between grade 4 and grade 5. 

However, it is more rigid and corrosion-resistant. This titanium alloy has excellent temperature coefficients. It means that this grade can be sustained in high-temperature conditions. Let me be more precise. This titanium alloy can withstand more heat than grades 1 to 4. It is also better suited for cold rolling. 

Quick Highlight: All the titanium grades or alloys consist of multiple alloy elements. Some of them have prominent proportions. On the contrary, other elements are also present but in traces. However, they (traces) add some unique properties to different grades. Due to their low proportion, we generally ignore them. In the above, I only mention alloy elements with prominent proportions.

 

4- Titanium Alpha-Beta Alloys

Titanium alpha-beta alloys are formed by combining aluminum, Vanadium, and tin traces. Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn is an example of these alloys. Such alloys offer good heat treatment and welding properties. They can have medium to high strength levels. They have limited cold forming but excellent hot forming qualities. The usage of these alloys is very diverse which is as follows:

• Aircraft turbine parts
• Chemical processing plants
• Engine casings of jet engines
• Marine equipment, such as propeller shafts
• Used in the medical field to make surgical instruments.

 

The prices of these titanium alloys vary depending on many factors. Those include their purity, alloy composition, and the complexity of the processing technology. Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) is the most common α+β type titanium alloy. Its price is relatively moderate, about 35-45$/kg.

 

Grade 6 (Ti-5Al-2.5Sn) is slightly more expensive than Grade 5. Grade 9 (Ti-3Al-2.5V) is a more economical α+β type titanium alloy with a relatively low price. The price of aviation grade is generally 20-30% higher than industrial grade. It is worth noting that processing technology and the use of grades impact the cost of these grades. 

 

Quick Highlight: Different processing technologies are used when working with titanium. Each varies in terms of its use, result, and pricing. One of those processing technologies is CNC. Head to our Custom Titanium CNC Service page if you want CNC processing.

 

Why is Titanium So Expensive?

 

In the section above, I mentioned some popular grades of titanium. Their prices vary from each other, just like their usages, right? But what makes their prices vary? Almost all titanium grades or alloys are expensive. What are the reasons behind their expenses? Let’s find out those factors that make titanium super costly.

 

1- Extraction of Titanium from Raw Materials

Titanium is the ninth most commonly found metal on Earth. Due to its abundance, it should be readily available at a low price. But the reality is different. The first difficulty is titanium procurement. Let me explain why. Titanium does not exist in a pure state. It is found in rutile and ilmenite, which are titanium ores.

 

Extracting titanium from its ores is more complex than you’d think. It cannot be done using carbon because the chemical reaction forms a brittle compound. Titanium also has a high melting point, making the process energy-intensive. Mining titanium from its ores is a complex task. It is done using the Kroll Process.

 

The metal is transformed into a porous shape called a titanium sponge. The titanium sponge is then slowly melted to produce metal ingots. The energy consumed in this process accounts for 30% of the total cost. A significant amount of titanium is lost during the refinement process. It is estimated that 11 kg of titanium ore on refinement produces about 1 kg of pure metal.

 

Quick Highlight: Extraction of titanium from ore is a big challenge. It requires many specialized tools and machines to get the job done, making the titanium costly. Moreover, the challenging extraction makes it hard to meet the demand in the manufacturing industry.

 

2- Tooling and Equipment Requirements for Titanium Processing

In terms of pure strength, high-quality steel is better than titanium. However, titanium’s prowess shines when subjected to temperature. Steel can only operate up to 1500 degrees Celsius. However, titanium can withstand temperatures up to 1800 degrees Celsius.

 

Titanium does not perform better than steel at just high temperatures. Steel is prone to shattering in sub-zero conditions, while titanium is not. However, titanium is better than steel when it comes to flexibility. It can flex and bow under the pressure of CNC machines.

 

Is titanium expensive due to these factors? Yes. Due to its hardness and abrasiveness, tools wear out faster. The adjustments needed to make titanium parts shine are crucial and complex. The tool selection process is also complicated. This adds to the expense of an already costly raw material.

 

3- Thermal Management and Machine Wear When Cutting Titanium Metal

 

Heat is generated when titanium is cut using tools. Remember, metals like iron and aluminium have excellent thermal conductivity. This means that the heat of the cutting tool gets dissipated. Titanium, however, has poor thermal conductivity. This causes the workpiece to heat up, which, left unattended, can damage the machine.

 

Several techniques are employed to dissipate this heat in CNC machines. When dealing with titanium, machines operate at lower RPMs. Using a chip load is another alternative. When working with titanium, high-pressure coolants and lubricants are recommended. Naturally, these add to the cost of manufacturing.

 

4- Galling and Chemical Reactivity during Titanium Machining

 

During titanium operations, atmospheric gasses can react with the surface metal. The resulting oxidation may cause impurities in the metal. It can reduce component strength and make it prone to corrosion. Additionally, cutting titanium is challenging due to its gummy nature. 

 

Due to its low elasticity, titanium can easily stick to the cutting tool, damaging parts of the CNC machine. A careful approach is necessary when titanium is processed through CNC machines. It is also susceptible to galling, which can threaten its outer finish. These challenges further contribute to titanium’s higher pricing.

 

5- Production Time of Titanium Parts

 

Titanium parts production consumes more time than other metals. Its hardness, strength, and low elasticity make operating CNC machines at high speeds challenging. This difficulty means the operator must spend more time overseeing the operation. 

 

This leads to longer machining times, increasing electricity and labor costs. As I mentioned above, titanium is super strong. You might think of running a machine quickly with more power to save time and energy. If you run CNC machines at high speed, titanium strength can damage the machines’ tools.

 

6- Post-Processing and Waste Management

 

Titanium might sound like a simple metal with easy processing. But that’s not the truth. It has to undergo significant post-processing. Those processes include heat treatment and surface finishing. These processes increase the manufacturing cost of titanium products.

 

Waste management and tool cleaning after titanium production are also challenging. Titanium is a paramagnetic material, meaning it has weak magnetic properties. Therefore, its dust and filings cannot be cleaned using a magnetic device. This means other cleaning tools, like mechanical brushes or water jets, may be required.

 

Quick Highlight: Waste management of magnetic metal is generally relatively more straightforward. Why? Because the pieces or chips stick to the magnet of CNC machines. However, titanium is non-magnetic. Its pieces do not stick to the magnet. So, more advanced cleaning devices are needed, which enhance their processing cost. 

 

7- Certifications and Quality Assurance

 

The quality of the raw materials must meet the stringent quality norms. Manufacturers are required to maintain detailed specification sheets for their products. Titanium is widely used in many industries, including aeronautics and healthcare. The need for certifications and licenses increases metal cost and procurement time. 

 

If formally licensed raw material is not a concern, go for non-certified titanium. This kind of titanium has no specification sheet. It is available on an as-is basis. It is significantly cheaper than certified titanium. Some suppliers can also provide you with lab-certified titanium. A third-party testing facility verifies this metal. 

 

Quick Highlight: The lab-certified titanium costs more than non-certified titanium. However, you get more details and verification about the quality of titanium. This lab-certified titanium is still more affordable than certified titanium. However, accredited titanium helps you comply with the rules and quality assurance system.

 

8- High Demand, Low Supply

Titanium is employed in several essential industries. The prominent sectors that use this metal include aerospace, automobiles, and marine. These sectors rely on titanium due to its ideal strength-to-weight ratio. Titanium is also chemically inert and non-toxic, making it suitable for medical equipment.

 

However, the supply of titanium is not very good. As I said earlier, titanium is extracted from ores. This process of extraction is both costly and time-consuming, which affects the supply of titanium. On the flip side, demand is high in the industries mentioned above. As a result, there is a disturbance in supply and demand, and the price of titanium remains high.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is CNC machining using titanium difficult?

Yes, CNC machining with titanium is challenging. Titanium is a hard metal with poor heat conductance, so the workpiece heats up during CNC machining (cutting or drilling). Due to a low modulus of elasticity, it can also stick to the cutting tool. Processing titanium with CNC machines can be time-consuming and tedious. However, working effectively with titanium with the right tools and procedures is possible.

 

What are the advantages of using titanium?

Titanium is rugged and durable. It is 40% lighter than steel while offering comparable strength. Its corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and temperature resistance make it immensely useful. Due to this, titanium is one of the most premium metals to make machine parts.

 

What are the factors that affect the price of titanium during CNC machining?

Multiple factors influence the price of titanium during CNC machining. Those include:

• Metal grade
• Machining time
• Part complexity
• Tool wear and tear
• Need of coolant to reduce heating
• Electricity that machines take during their working

The CNC machine must also be operated at a lower RPM or speed. This increases production time. Scrap collection and waste management are also challenging. All these things compound the price of titanium machining.

 

How can the expenses of titanium machining be decreased?

Efficient planning is the key to reducing costs while working with titanium. During pre-production, focus on optimal design. Reduce unnecessary geometrical features that may impact machining time. Choosing an appropriate titanium grade is also very important. Different grades have different properties like machinability and performance. Evaluate which suits you best according to the parts you need to produce.

 

Conclusion

 

Titanium is immensely useful for many reasons. Those include its strength, durability, corrosion resistance, and thermal tolerance. But like it’s said, all good things come with a price. Titanium is no exception and is very costly. Its immense demand, complex procurement, and challenging machining are the reasons behind its high cost.

 

This does not mean that titanium production is not profitable. You can quickly begin producing premium titanium parts with proper planning and preparation. This will help you reach the status of a top-tier titanium manufacturer. In this article, I’ve explained all the factors that make titanium costly.