2025 Prices and Applications Guide of CP Titanium Grades 1 to 4
Updated : Aug. 11, 2025This guide compiles the latest mechanical data, pricing, and field cases so engineers and procurement teams can make evidence‑based decisions.
Fast Facts
| Item | Data | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 4.51 g cm⁻³ (60 % of 316 L) | ASM Metals Handbook vol. 2 (2023) |
| Grades | 1 – 4 (oxygen ↑ → strength ↑) | ASTM B265‑25 |
| Corrosion rate in seawater | < 0.02 mm y⁻¹ to 260 °C | MetalsPiping article "Corrosion Resistance of Titanium to Water & Seawater” |
| FOB Shanghai TA2 plate (3–8 mm) | USD 7.76 – 8.01 kg⁻¹ (7 Jul 2025) | Shanghai Metals Market, Titanium Plate (TA2) price table |
| CIF Rotterdam CP G2 ingot | USD 11.5 – 12.5 kg⁻¹ (3 Feb 2025) | Argus Non‑Ferrous Markets sample, p. 12 |
| US Midwest cut‑sheet retail | ≈ USD 18 kg⁻¹ (0.025″ sheet) | TMS Titanium online store SKU TS2‑0025‑12‑24 |
| India ex‑works plate | USD 10 – 30 kg⁻¹ | Renox Impex price list 2025 |
Grade Map & Standards
| Grade | UNS | O (%) max | Rm MPa | Rp0.2 MPa | A % | Typical Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R50250 | 0.18 | 240 | 170 | 24 | ASTM B265/B348, EN 3.7025 |
| 2 | R50400 | 0.25 | 345 | 275 | 20 | Most traded; GB/T 3621 TA2 |
| 3 | R50550 | 0.35 | 450 | 380 | 18 | Offshore risers |
| 4 | R50700 | 0.4 | 550 | 480 | 15 | Medical implants, HP vessels |
2025 Price Picture
- Asia (FOB Shanghai): 7.8–8.0 USD kg⁻¹ – SMM spot bid range for 3–8 mm hot‑rolled plate.
- Europe (CIF Rotterdam): 11.5–12.5 USD kg⁻¹ – Argus contract benchmark.
- USA (EXW Midwest service centre): 18–20 USD kg⁻¹ equivalent for cut sheet.
Drivers: Ti‑sponge feedstock, RMB–USD FX, freight, EU AD duties on TiO₂ (chemanalyst May 2025).
Material Strengths
High Specific Strength
Grade 2 delivers 345 MPa tensile at half the weight of steel—up to 2.3× specific strength.
Corrosion Immunity
No pitting or crevice corrosion in full‑strength seawater up to 120 ft/s flow; condenser tubes operate decades without retubing.
Biocompatibility
ISO 10993 tests confirm zero cytotoxicity; CP Ti dominates dental implants and pacemaker cases.
Processing & Fabrication Essentials
Cold & Hot Forming
- Grades 1–2 allow deep drawing, hydroforming, and 1.5 × t bend radii without cracking.
- Grades 3–4 need ≥ 3 × t radii or a 650 °C intermediate anneal.
- Recommended lubricants: MoS₂ paste or graphite‑oil; finish with 35 % HNO₃ + 2 % HF scrub.
Welding
| Process | Typical Setup | Key Control |
|---|---|---|
| TIG/GTAW | 99.999 % Ar, 10–15 L min⁻¹; trailing shield | Bead color must stay straw‑silver; any blue → rework |
| Plasma | 99.999 % Ar + 1 % He | Faster for >3 mm plate |
| Explosion bond | Ti + CS/SS plates for heat‑exchangers | Bond shear ≥ 200 MPa per ASTM B898 |
Machining
- Sharp, uncoated carbide; **Vc ≈ 40 m min⁻¹**, **f\_z ≈ 0.2 mm/tooth**; flood coolant.
- Peck‑drill < 6 mm holes to avoid chip welding.
- High‑pressure (> 70 bar) emulsion lowers H uptake.
Surface Finish
- ASTM B600 pickling: 15 % HNO₃ + 1–3 % HF → DI water rinse.
- Optional TiN/DLC PVD for bearings, or micro‑shot‑peen (0.15 mm A) to raise fatigue limit ≈ 15 %.
CP Ti vs Ti‑6Al‑4V Cheat‑Sheet
| Metric | CP Ti (G2) | Ti‑6Al‑4V (G5) |
|---|---|---|
| Density (g cm⁻³) | 4.51 | 4.43 |
| Tensile (MPa) | 345 | 950 |
| Yield (MPa) | 275 | 880 |
| Elongation % | 20 | 10 |
| Modulus (GPa) | 105 | 113 |
| Corrosion in 3 % NaCl | Immune | Immune |
| Weldability | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ (α‑case removal) |
| Machinability index (B111 = 100) | 15 | 22 |
| Cost (USD kg⁻¹, 2025 Q2) | 17–24 | 32–40 |
| Best Fit | Condensers, pressure‑low | Airframe, 400 °C drivetrain |
Failure Mechanisms & Mitigation Guide
| Mechanism | Trigger | Symptom | Preventive Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creep | > 400 °C long hold | Dimensional growth | Limit design temp or switch alloy |
| Galling / Fretting | Sliding Ti‑Ti or Ti‑SS pair | Seizure, wear | Hard‑coat (TiN), PTFE inserts |
| Hydrogen Embrittlement | Cathodic protection, pickling | Brittle fracture at ≤ 25 °C | Bake 600 °C × 2 h; keep H < 40 ppm |
| Crevice Corrosion | Stagnant chloride 80–120 °C | Local metal loss | Design full welds, flush flow > 1 m s⁻¹ |
| Galvanic Attack | Ti connected to CS/Cu in seawater | Rust on CS, pitting | Dielectric gaskets, Ti‑Clad tube‑sheets |
| Ti Powder Combustion | Chips < 425 µm + spark | Burning swarf | Wet chip buckets, Class D MgCl₂ powder |
Known Limitations (and Fixes)
| Limitation | Root Cause | Engineering Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Yield <600 MPa | Low interstitials | Switch to Ti‑6Al‑4V for load‑bearing frames |
| Creep >400 °C | Grain‑boundary sliding | Keep design temp ≤350 °C or adopt Ti‑6242 |
| Galling/wear | High friction 0.4–0.6 | Hardcoat (TiN, DLC); use polymer bearings |
| Hydrogen embrittlement in cathodic zones | TiHx precipitation | Bake‑out at 600 °C; avoid stagnant crevices; monitor H < 40 ppm. |
Application Playbook 2025
| Sector | Pain Point | CP Ti Solution | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desalination | Cu‑Ni pitting, chlorine | Grade 2 condenser tubes; 30‑yr LCC win | 2 |
| Chlor‑Alkali | Membrane cell anode corrosion | Explosion‑clad Ti + steel anodes | 2/3 |
| Hydrogen pipelines | H₂ permeation & steel embrittlement | Ti‑clad spool pieces, valve liners under ASME B31.12 | 2H |
| Medical | Nickel allergy | Grade 4 root implants | 4 |
| Offshore wind | Weight & crevice in tidal zones | Ti gr. 2 bolts, spray rings | 2 |
Code compliance: ASME B31.12‑2024 permits Ti in Class C piping if hydriding risk is managed.
Quality & Compliance Checklist
1. MTC EN 10204 3.1/3.2 – Oxygen, H, Fe, N.
2. NDE – 100 % UT per ASTM E2375 for >12 mm plates.
3. PED/AD 2000 W2/W10 for EU pressure vessels.
4. Ship‑class (DNV) approval for seawater systems.
2026‑2030 Outlook
IEA projects hydrogen demand to nearly 100 Mt in 2024 and rising. Alloy upgrades and Ti‑clad may seize 5–8 kt/y of tubing demand in new H₂ pipelines.
Battery‑grade recycling, modular nuclear reactors, and supercritical CO₂ desalination are other fast‑growing niches.
Quick‑Reference Decision Tree
1. Corrosive chloride <150 °C? → Prefer CP Ti.
2. Design temp >400 °C? → Use Ti alloys.
3. Dynamic load >500 MPa? → Ti‑6Al‑4V or steel.
4. Budget‑critical but coastal? → Evaluate Ti‑steel explosion clad.
Commercially pure titanium is not a cure‑all, but when the life‑cycle maths include downtime, it is often the cheapest metal you’ll never replace. Use the data in this guide to speak the same language with your plant engineer, purchasing officer, and freight forwarder.
