Commercially pure unalloyed titanium makes up the first 4 grades
of the 40 plus grades of titanium. Grade 1 Titanium is the purest and least strong grade of commercially pure titanium
grades.
The purity of Grade 1 makes it a good choice for the medical
industry where strength is not the key characteristic. Titanium is biocompatible making it a great
metal for human body parts and medical tools. Grade 1 is the softest and most formable grade of commercially pure
titanium. Like the other grades of commercially pure titanium Grade 1 is the most ductile making it more impact
resistant.
The cold
formability of Grade 1 titanium allows for manufacturing into various shapes
like tube and pipe. While other grades of titanium are alloyed
with other metals for strength, they give up the formability of the commercially
pure grades of titanium. Grade 1 being
the softest makes it a great choice for shapes that other grades are not
capable of including bending. Grade 1 titanium wire is a perfect example of the flexibility it has.
Did you know Grade 1 is cold-formable and has a tensile strength
of 35,000 PSI and yield strength of 20,000 psi as well as its ultra-corrosion
resistance? Aluminum of the 1100 series is also cold formable but has a tensile
strength about half that of Grade 1 titanium and in fabrication would typically
require more material to attain the same strength as titanium. Grade 1 titanium is great for spin-forming
shapes because of its cold formability and ductility.
Grade 1 titanium is used in chemical processing due to its
ultra-corrosion resistance. Titanium
forms its oxide layer over its surface making the corrosion resistance possible
and is also self-healing when that layer is broken. Many chemical processes use
Grade 1 titanium whereas the other metals like stainless steel would not hold
up to the corrosive fluids or temperature.
Grade 1 expanded metal is a great choice for anodizing baskets and is very
easily formed and welded.