Forming of the Titanium and Titanium Alloys: Part One

Forming of the Titanium and Titanium Alloys: Part One

Titanium is often hot or cold worked to form various structural components used in industries such as aerospace, biomedical, and automotive. This involves primary forming operations like forging, rolling, extrusion, drawing, and spinning, which shape the basic ingot into standard forms such as billets, sheets, plates, rods, and wires. Additionally, secondary operations further fabricate these standard forms into specific components.

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Primary and Secondary Forming Operations

Primary forming operations include forging and rolling, which process basic ingots into billets, sheets, plates, rods, and wires. Secondary operations, such as bending, extrusion, drawing, and spinning, are used to create more intricate forms from these fundamental shapes. Conventional equipment designed for steel can generally be adapted for titanium, although working with titanium demands specific considerations regarding time, temperature, and pressure.

Forge and Roll Operations

Like most metals, titanium alloys respond well to standard forging and rolling techniques when modified for specific temperature and pressure requirements. Primary forming requires slow, steady pressure. For critical shaping, parameters such as temperature must be carefully controlled to avoid metal damage and ensure uniformity.

Hot and Cold Working Techniques

Titanium forming, whether hot or cold, tends to follow general principles. Where possible, cold forming should be used to preserve the material properties. When hot forming is necessary, heating the metal or forming dies is essential. Uniform, steady pressure is recommended during forming, and post-heat treatment is often carried out to relieve residual stresses from severe cold forming.

Forging

Forging involves shaping metal through repeated blows, and titanium can be successfully forged using either open die or closed die methods. Open die forging is typically employed for rough shapes, using flat, V, or curved dies. Closed die forging creates finished shapes by pressing the metal into a preformed die. Titanium forging usually requires temperatures between 1450°F (790°C) and 1950°F (1065°C), depending on the alloy.

Swaging

Swaging reduces or tapers the end of rods, bars, or tubes. This operation uses revolving spindles with shaped dies and is performed at temperatures between 500 and 700°F (260 and 370°C).

Upsetting

Upsetting increases the diameter of a bar, rod, or tube's end. This is done by holding the piece between preformed dies and applying intermittent pressure, forcing the metal against the dies. Titanium is best upset at temperatures between 800 and 1000°F (425 and 540°C).

Cold Heading

Cold heading is suitable for producing rivets, bolts, and similar fasteners. This method involves forming intricate shapes on wire or small diameter rods by upsetting them at the ends and forcing the metal into a die. For titanium, preheating to 500°F (260°C) can prevent cracking in the upset area.

Date Published: Feb-2007

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