titanium am powders for Additive Manufacturing

With exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility, titanium is a highly valued material for additive manufacturing across aerospace, medical, automotive and industrial applications. This overview explores the different titanium am powders, their corresponding properties, post-processing treatments, leading global suppliers, and example use cases by industry.

Overview of titanium am powders

Key properties make titanium such an ideal material for powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition AM processes:

• High strength – often exceeding annealed titanium while rivaling Ti-6Al-4V
• Low density – high strength-to-weight ratio, reduced printed part weight
• Corrosion resistance – protective surface oxide shield
• Biocompatibility – suited for medical devices and implants
• Ability to alloy – tailor properties like strength and hardness
• Cost-effectiveness – lower material waste versus machining from blocks
• Buy-to-fly ratios exceeding 90%+ – optimized designs save weight and material

Paired with the design freedom AM facilitates, titanium unlocks new potential applications.

Titanium Alloy Powder Options for AM

Popular titanium alloys leveraged today include commercially pure grades, alpha and alpha-beta alloys and novel proprietary grades like Titanium 6242.

Common Titanium Alloy Compositions

Alloy	Al%	V%	Fe%	O%	Other
CP Ti Grade 1	–	–	≤ 0.20	≤ 0.18	–
CP Ti Grade 2	–	–	≤ 0.30	≤ 0.25	–
Ti-6Al-4V	5.5-6.5	3.5-4.5	≤ 0.25	≤ 0.13	–
Ti 6242	5.8-6.8	–	≤ 0.30	≤ 0.20	Mo, Zr

Trace oxygen, nitrogen and carbon are strictly limited to ensure optimal AM processing and mechanical properties.

Specifications for titanium am powders

High purity, spherical titanium powder with controlled particle size distribution is required for defect-free, dense AM components.

Titanium Powder Particle Size Distribution

Measurement	Specification
Size Range	15 – 45 μm
Mean Particle Size	25-35 μm
Particle Shape	Predominantly spherical

Sphericity promotes powder spreadability. Controlled distribution prevents segregation issues during application and recyclability.

Post-Processing Procedures for AM Titanium Parts

Common post-treatment options for additively manufactured titanium components include:

Post-Processing Methods

Stress Relieving

Low temperature aging eliminates residual stresses from the build process, preventing potential warpage and cracking.

Surface Finishing

Enhances surface finish for precision dimensions, break sharp edges or improve aesthetic appearance.

Hot Isostatic Pressing

Densifies any internal porosity by simultaneous elevated temperature and isostatic pressure application. Required for dynamic end-use applications.

Heat Treatment

Alters microstructure of Ti-6Al-4V and other titanium alloys to enhance mechanical properties like ductility and fatigue life.

Machining

Brings high precision dimensions and surface finishes for bearing and sealing surfaces on AM near-net shape parts.

Additive Manufacturing Techniques for Titanium Powder

Modern metal 3D printing uses micro welding of fine titanium to construct complex components. Two common approaches include:

Comparison of Titanium AM Process Options

Method	Description	Benefits	Limitations
Powder Bed Fusion	Laser or e-beam fuses regions of powder bed selectively according to digital model	Exceptional geometric capabilities and material versatility suitable for end-use functional titanium components	Slower build speeds than DED; size limitations from machine bed
Directed Energy Deposition	Focused heat source melts metal powder spray nozzle	Larger components possible; Cumulative build area. Ideal for repairs and coatings.	Poorer surface finish; Higher porosity – requires extensive post-processing

Laser based approaches currently see the widest adoption for printing high purity titanium alloys thanks to precision and material performance.

Applications of titanium am powders

Thanks to titanium material advantages like high mechanical performance per unit weight combined with AM design freedoms, applications include:

Industries Adopting Titanium AM Parts

Aerospace – engine brackets, drone parts, satellite components

Medical & Dental – implants, prosthetics, surgical instruments

Automotive – motor sports gear, custom brackets

Oil & Gas – deep sea tooling, valves and pumps

Power Generation – lightweight impellors, turbine blades

Novel engineered alloys like Ti-6242 push capabilities even further allowing titanium across high growth sectors.

Leading Suppliers of Titanium Print Powders

Key producers of spherical titanium powders for reliable AM processes include:

Titanium Powder Manufacturers

Company	Common Grades	Pricing/Kg
AP&C	Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-6242, Grade 2, 23	$50 – $350
The Linde Group	Ti-6Al-4V, Grade 2, 23, 5	$200 – $600
Wolfram Metal Powder	Ti-6Al-4V, Grade 5	$100 – $500
Sandvik	Ti-6Al-4V	$120 – $310

Prices depend significantly on purity standards, powder size parameters, certified chemistry, and purchase volumes.

FAQ

What titanium alloy grade is best for medical or dental AM parts?

Medical grade 5 titanium with strict chemistry controls is recommended for bio-inert implant applications requiring optimal biocompatibility and high fatigue performance.

Why is low oxygen content critical for titanium print powders?

High oxygen leads to excess titanium oxides reducing fusion capabilities, ductility, fatigue life and mechanical performance. Oxygen is limited to remain under 0.18-0.2% levels.

What titanium alloys benefit the most from post-processing treatments?

Prominent dual heat treatments for Ti-6Al-4V enhance tensile strength while improving ductility. Grade 2 titanium achieves the highest tensile gains from annealing relieving followed by aging response.

Is surface finishing required for Titanium AM parts?

Certain applications require dimensional accuracy, tribological, aesthetic or inactivation needs best addressed by surface enhancement – including precision CNC machining, grinding/polishing, EDM, shot peening, anodization, plasma electrolytic oxidation etc.

How should suppliers be evaluated for printing titanium powder orders?

Leading critical characteristics used by additive manufacturers and designers for qualifying titanium powder suppliers beyond reasonable pricing include: spherical morphology, tight control of particle size distribution, extremely low gaseous impurity contents (especially oxygen and nitrogen), lot traceability through stringent quality management system, responsive technical expertise, sampling availability and certifications proving standardized in-house testing protocols.

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