Whenever you have a manufacturing project, choosing the right material for your production is up to you. Aluminum and titanium are excellent metal options with diverse applications in different industries. Before choosing titanium or aluminum for your project, you must understand the differences in their properties.
This article explains the properties of titanium and aluminum, their advantages and disadvantages, and their various applications. This will help you make informed decisions for your next project. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into the topic!
Titanium vs. Aluminum: Comparison of Its Properties
When carrying out a project, you must consider materials with impeccable properties, such as strength and lightness. Aluminum and titanium come to mind because they meet requirements like corrosion resistance, heat tolerance, and more.
Therefore, it would be helpful to analyze the differences between aluminum and titanium to choose a suitable material for your project.
Elementary composition
In general, some components are not ideal for certain applications due to their elemental composition. Furthermore, additional properties of other elements can improve the mechanical properties of some metals. Titanium is composed of oxygen, nickel, nitrogen, iron, carbon and hydrogen. Titanium is the main elemental composition, with other components ranging between 0.013 and 0.5%.
Aluminum, on the other hand, is made up of several components, with aluminum being the main component. Other components include zirconium, zinc, chromium, silicon, magnesium, titanium, manganese, iron, copper and many more.
Thermal conductivity
The thermal conductivity of a material determines its ability to conduct or transfer heat. If your project requires a material with good thermal conductivity, you may need to choose a material with high conductivity. Materials with low thermal conductivity are also good insulators.
Aluminum alloys have a high thermal conductivity of 210 W/mK compared to titanium with 17.0 W/mK. Therefore, aluminum is suitable for heat sinks, heat exchangers and kitchen appliances.
Electric conductivity
Electrical conductivity is the property of a material that allows electrons to flow through the material due to a drop in potential. Copper is a standard measurement for determining the electrical conductivity of a material.
In comparison, titanium has an electrical conductivity about 3.1% that of copper. This proves that titanium has minimal electrical conductivity and is unsuitable for applications where good conductivity is an important factor. Although titanium is not a suitable electrical conductor, it is suitable for making resistors.
On the other hand, aluminum has 64% of the conductivity of copper, making it a better option than titanium. Therefore, it is a metal best suited for projects where electrical conductivity is critical.
Strength
The strength of a metal is its resistance to irreparable deformation. However, resistance varies depending on the metal used or the application.
Here are some of the different strengths of titanium and aluminum:
● Yield strength
The yield strength of a metal is the maximum stress at which it begins to permanently deform. Commercially pure titanium is a low to medium strength material. Therefore, it is not a suitable material for aircraft structures or engines. This is because the yield strength of high-purity titanium is between 170 MPa and 480 MPa, which is significantly low for heavily loaded aircraft structures.
In comparison, the yield strength of pure aluminum is between 7 and 11 MPa. Aluminum alloys have a yield strength between 200 and 600 MPa.
● Tensile strength
The tensile strength of titanium alloys at moderate temperatures ranges from 230 MPa for the softest commercially pure titanium to 1400 MPa for high-strength alloys. Furthermore, the yield strength of titanium is between 170 MPa and 1100 MPa depending on the quality and condition.
In contrast, aluminum alloys have greater strength compared to pure aluminum. Pure aluminum has a tensile strength of 90 MPa. However, the tensile strength of some heat-treated aluminum alloys can be increased to more than 690 MPa.
● Shear strength
This is a material's resistance to structural failure before failing in shear. Shear failure associated with shear strength generally occurs parallel to the direction of the force acting in a plane. The shear stress of titanium varies between 40 and 45 MPa depending on the properties of the alloy.
Aluminum, on the other hand, has a shear stress of 85 to 435 MPa. Therefore, its shear strength is better than that of titanium. If shear strength is an important factor, consider an aluminum grade rather than titanium.
Density and hardness
Both titanium and aluminum are lightweight metals for various applications. Aluminum (2,712 kg/m³) has a lower density compared to titanium (4,500 kg/m³). Although titanium is two-thirds heavier than aluminum, aluminum's density is much lower.
The hardness of a metal is the comparative value of a metal in response to deformation, scratching, corrosion, or dents on its surface. Titanium is generally harder than aluminum. However, some aluminum alloys have higher hardness than titanium, such as: B. AA6082 T5 and T6 hardness, AA7075 T7 and T6 hardness and more.
So, if you need a lightweight metal, aluminum is the best choice while titanium is the best choice in terms of hardness.
fusion point
The melting point of a metal is the temperature at which it begins to change from a solid to a liquid state. The solid and liquid states of the metal are in equilibrium at this temperature. Once the material reaches this temperature, it can be easily shaped for thermal applications.
Titanium has a higher melting point of 1650 – 1670 °C. This makes it a suitable refractory metal. On the other hand, aluminum has a lower melting point than titanium at 660.37 °C. Therefore, titanium is the suitable material to use in cases of heat-resistant applications.
Corrosion resistance
Both aluminum and titanium have excellent resistance to corrosion, making one material more durable than the other. Titanium is a non-reactive metal. Therefore, it has high corrosion resistance. Its biocompatibility makes it more suitable for medical applications.
Aluminum alloys are inert to corrosive elements due to their oxide layer. However, the corrosion of these alloys depends on atmospheric factors, such as chemical composition, temperature and airborne chemicals.
Machinability and formability
The machinability value of a metal determines the appropriate machining method. At the same time, malleability is the ability of metals to undergo plastic deformation without damage. CNC turning and milling are standard processes for producing titanium and aluminum components. They offer tighter tolerances of +/- 0.005.
Complex geometries and machining waste influence material processing. You might consider using low-cost aluminum instead of titanium to reduce waste when producing components with complicated geometric designs.
Furthermore, aluminum is easier to shape than titanium because aluminum is easy to process using any method. You can cut it in different ways depending on the material properties. Therefore, aluminum is best suited when formability is a priority.
Properties table: Difference between titanium and aluminum
| Property | titanium | aluminum |
| atomic number | Its atomic number is 22 or 22 protons | Its atomic number is 13 or 13 protons |
| Maximum Tensile Strength (UTS) | It has a tensile strength of up to 1170MPa | It has a tensile strength of 310 MPa |
| fusion point | Titanium melts at 1650 – 1670 °C | Aluminum melts at 582 – 652 °C |
| Electric conductivity | Titanium has low electrical conductivity | Aluminum has excellent electrical conductivity |
| magnetism | It is paramagnetic | It's not magnetic |
| Strength | It has twice the strength of aluminum | Has lower resistance than titanium |
| Thermal conductivity | Low thermal conductivity | High thermal conductivity |
An Overview of Titan
Titanium is a silver-colored, high-strength, low-density radiant transition metal. It has unique corrosion resistance and excellent thermal conductivity. Furthermore, it is very resistant to corrosion and is therefore suitable for use in shipbuilding.
The thermal expansion of titanium is relatively low because it does not absorb heat but reflects it. Due to its resistance and safety, it is an excellent material for medical devices such as knee prostheses, dental implants, pacemakers and many others.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Titanium
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- Higher strength/density ratio
- A preferred alternative to steel
- Rust and corrosion resistant
- High resistance to stressful conditions
- Excellent durability
- Suitable for many products
Disadvantages
- Requires high cutting force due to high strength
- Low modulus of elasticity
- Costs more than aluminum
Titanium Applications
Titanium is a widely used metal with many applications in various industries. Although titanium also has disadvantages, many industries prefer its advantages over these difficulties. These are some of the uses of titanium:
Consumers and Architecture – used for eyeglass frames, laptop parts, bicycle parts, etc.
Aerospace industry – used to manufacture parts such as hydraulic systems, firewalls, aerospace fasteners, landing gear, and other important structural components.
Industrial application – used for valves, sputtering targets, process vessels, heat exchangers and other parts.
Healthcare sector – for manufacturing surgical instruments, surgical devices, dental implants and more.
An Overview of Aluminum
Aluminum is a flexible, generally soft, silvery-white, non-magnetic material for metalworking. It is economical and easy to work with. It has high fracture toughness and good corrosion resistance. Aluminum has many important mechanical properties that make it suitable for many applications.
For example, aluminum can be used as a conductor due to its excellent electrical conductivity. However, it reacts poorly to acids and corrodes quickly in an alkaline environment.
Advantages and disadvantages of aluminum
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- It is a cheaper option
- Odorless and waterproof
- Reflexivity and flexibility
- High machinability and recyclability
- Corrosion resistance
- High thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity
Disadvantages
- Difficult welding process
- Corrodes quickly in salt water
- May affect the taste of packaged foods
Aluminum Applications
Aluminum is known for its excellent rust resistance and electrical conductivity. These properties make it a valuable material suitable for manufacturing various parts in different sectors. Its main applications include
Machinery and equipment – Tubes, tools and various processing materials.
electricity – related applications – motor transformers, generators, conductive alloys and more.
household items – Cookware, air conditioning, refrigerators and much more.
Transportation industry – Planes, spacecraft, ships, trains and more.
Titanium vs. aluminum: which metal should you choose?
While aluminum and titanium are excellent choices for a variety of applications, they are not suitable for all projects. Before selecting a metal for your specific applications, you must consider several factors, including the following:
Forms
The respective properties of titanium and aluminum make them ideal for a variety of applications. For example, titanium is perfect for applications that require heat-resistant materials. This includes medical applications, satellite components, ship components and devices.
Aluminum is now suitable for vehicle and bicycle frames, heat sinks, electrical conductors, small vessels and other applications that require high thermal conductivity.
Optional editing processes
The material you choose for your project will determine the geometry of your final products. It also determines the processing method used for the material when producing your parts. Aluminum is more compatible with a variety of processes. It offers high-quality components in cases where parts need to be produced quickly.
Additionally, this material is easier to process than titanium and is a better option for producing complex parts with tight tolerance requirements.
Cost
Production cost is one of the fundamental factors you need to consider when choosing a metal for your project. In general, aluminum is a low-cost metal used for precision machining and many other prototyping processes. Manufacturing components with aluminum is usually cheaper than with titanium.
Titanium has high extraction and manufacturing costs compared to aluminum. The high price limits its application. However, titanium is an ideal material for machining purposes if the cost of machining titanium is not an issue.
weight and strength
The weight and strength of titanium and aluminum are other differences between these metals. Titanium has a density of 4,500 kg/m3 compared to 2,712 kg/m3 for aluminum. Therefore, titanium is heavier compared to aluminum. This means you need less titanium during machining to get a lightweight product.
Titanium is the best choice in terms of strength. Its tensile strength varies between 230 MPa and 1400 MPa, while aluminum's range is between 90 MPa and 690 MPa. Pure titanium has low strength, while pure aluminum is weaker. However, you can combine aluminum with other metal alloys to increase its strength as needed.
Waste produced
Another crucial factor in machining projects with complex geometry is machining waste. Complex geometries can limit your machining method, regardless of the material you choose. Therefore, milling of excess material is inevitable. Most manufacturers use aluminum for prototype production and titanium for small batch production of specialty products. In most cases, it is advisable to choose cheap aluminum over titanium as it helps reduce overall costs.
Aesthetic requirements
Some milled parts often require the application of certain colors for aesthetic refinement. Titanium has a silvery surface that appears darker in the light. Aluminum, on the other hand, has a silvery white appearance. The material you choose determines whether your product is silver or matte gray. However, both materials can be treated with various other metal surface finishing processes, such as: B. blasting, polishing, chrome plating, etc.
Concluding
Titanium and aluminum are metals with remarkable properties, respective benefits and applications. Although they have almost similar properties, there are individual applications for which one is more suitable than the other. While titanium is ideal for heat-resistant applications, aluminum has the best thermal conductivity your project needs.
Common questions
Which metal lasts longer, titanium or aluminum?
Both metals have excellent durability properties and can be used for a long period of time. Still, titanium ranks first in terms of durability and rigidity. Its components last for years without signs of wear. Titanium has excellent corrosion resistance and lasts longer because it can withstand stress.
How can I distinguish between titanium and aluminum?
It is very easy to distinguish titanium from aluminum based on specific colors. Titanium has a dark silvery color, while aluminum generally ranges from silvery white to dull gray on various surfaces. Additionally, titanium feels much harder than aluminum. Aluminum usually removes a chunk of soft material when sanded, while titanium does not.
