Rising Titanium Shortage Forces Aerospace Sourcing Teams to Qualify New Suppliers
Buyers face extended mill lead times up to 52 weeks and must qualify alternative suppliers to protect schedules.
Titanium Forgings
Structural Strength
Metallic components produced by applying heavy compressive forces to heated titanium alloys acquire superior mechanical properties and internal grain structures for high-stress applications. These dense components, designated as titanium forgings, provide high tensile strength and fatigue resistance in demanding environments like aerospace and industrial processing. They are preferred over cast or machined parts when structural failure cannot be tolerated.
The production limits are set by the size of the pressing equipment and the high temperatures required to shape the metal. This thermal and mechanical processing ensures the components can withstand severe service conditions.
Metal Working
Hot working techniques utilize massive hydraulic presses to shape the metal while refining its internal grain structure to eliminate internal voids. In the production of titanium forgings, the alloy is heated to precise temperatures before being pressed into custom dies. This controlled deformation aligns the grain flow with the expected stress lines of the finished component.
The resulting part exhibits increased toughness and resistance to stress corrosion cracking under cyclical operational loads.
Quality Verification
Quality testing protocols must be executed on each batch to ensure that the internal structures and mechanical properties meet the design specifications. Testing laboratories use ultrasonic scans and liquid penetrant inspections to detect surface cracks or internal pockets that could compromise safety. This rigorous validation ensures that only defect-free parts are sent to assembly lines.
These steps prevent components from failing during operation.