What are the Benefits of Titanium Fasteners?
Fasteners and fixings need to be effective, and sometimes their appearance is not that important, especially when they are used in industrial applications or hidden from view. Titanium is a shiny silver metal that is sure to stand out from a distance and provide a premium aesthetic look for longer. Not only that, but its low density properties, high temperature resistance and excellent corrosion resistance make it a popular choice for a range of applications.
Applications of Titanium Fasteners
Titanium has a high strength-to-weight ratio, is strong and relatively ductile, and has a high melting point, making it suitable for applications that may involve high temperatures.
Titanium's strength and light weight make it exceptionally unique, with some grades being two to four times stronger than stainless steel. These properties make titanium ideal for certain aerospace, medical and military applications.
Titanium fasteners are resistant to salt water, making them suitable for marine applications. They are also resistant to nearly all chlorine or chloride solutions including chlorite, hypochlorite, chlorate, perchlorate and chlorine dioxide. If chlorine is used without water, or in gaseous form, it will cause rapid corrosion.
Titanium screws and fixings are used in applications requiring a high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking, and high corrosion resistance.
One thing to note: While titanium has excellent resistance to chlorides, it reacts poorly to strong acids like hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, which can destroy the protective passivation layer that titanium forms when exposed to oxygen. This can cause corrosion.
Types of Titanium Used for Fasteners and Fixtures
We typically stock fasteners made of grade 2 or grade 5 titanium.
Titanium Grade 2 is an unalloyed titanium classified as "commercially pure". It is widely used in industrial applications due to its moderate strength, excellent water corrosion resistance and formability.
Grade 5 titanium alloy contains 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium. Grade 5 titanium fasteners can withstand temperatures in excess of 400 degrees Celsius and are extremely strong – often used in marine and aerospace applications.
