3D Printing Titanium: Technologies and Applications

Titanium is known for its high strength-to-weight ratio, biocompatibility, and resistance to extreme environments. These properties make it ideal for applications ranging from aerospace components to medical implants. However, traditional manufacturing methods often result in a lot of material waste and limited design possibilities, which is where 3D printing comes in, changing the way titanium parts are made. Additive manufacturing minimizes material waste by building components layer by layer, while easily creating complex designs. This article will introduce the common technologies and industry applications of 3D printing titanium.

Source:  https://www.advancedsciencenews.com/a-new-copper-titanium-alloy-enables-3d-printing/

3D printing titanium manufacturing technology

Traditional titanium metallurgical processes have long cycles and high energy consumption, resulting in high costs and high prices for titanium alloys, which limits their widespread application. 3D printing can manufacture this expensive metal more efficiently and improve resource utilization. Selective laser melting (SLM) is the most popular 3D printing titanium technology. SLM creates high-precision parts by using lasers to melt titanium powder layer by layer. This technology not only accurately controls the melting process of the material, but also can produce complex geometries that cannot be achieved by traditional processing methods. In addition, electron beam melting (EBM) uses electron beams to melt titanium powder, which is suitable for larger parts and medical applications; binder jetting provides a cost-effective and scalable solution for titanium parts.

For more information about metal 3D printing manufacturing methods, you can read this article: Common material in metal 3D printing: 316L Stainless Steel

Common 3D printing titanium alloys

Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5)

This is the most commonly used titanium alloy, accounting for about 90% of the 3D printing titanium alloy market. It has excellent strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, and is widely used in aerospace, medical implants and high-performance device manufacturing.

Ti-6Al-4V ELI (Grade 23)

This is an improved version of Ti-6Al-4V with higher purity and ductility, which is more suitable for medical applications such as bone implants and dental devices.

Ti-5553

A high-strength titanium alloy that is particularly suitable for aerospace and military applications that require high performance and durability. Its application in 3D printing is more specialized and is used for key structural parts.

Ti-6242

This titanium alloy performs well in high-temperature environments and is suitable for high-temperature parts in aerospace engine components and motorsports.

Ti-3Al-2.5V (Grade 9)

Due to its good weldability and corrosion resistance, this alloy is often used in applications such as pipes and bicycle frames that require high strength but do not require extremely high performance.

Applications of 3D printing titanium

3D printed titanium plays an important role in the aerospace field. The use of such parts can reduce the purchase-to-fly ratio, that is, the correlation between the initial material weight and the weight of the finished part, and reduce the cost of raw materials.

In automotive and motorsports, 3D printed titanium can be used to make brake calipers, brackets, rims and pillars. The brake calipers developed by Bugatti for its Chiron supercar were 3D printed in 45 hours using SLM technology. The finished parts are said to be about 40% lighter than machined aluminum alternatives.

3D printed titanium alloys are widely used in high-performance bicycles for key components such as frames, cranks, brake handles, etc. due to their lightweight, high strength and sustainability advantages. Manufacturers such as Ribble and No.22 use 3D printing technology to create aerodynamically optimized titanium tubes and frames, integrate parts and improve ride quality.

In the medical field, titanium is widely used to manufacture orthopedic implants, dental instruments and surgical tools due to its excellent biocompatibility. Through 3D printing technology, personalized designs can be achieved for patient needs, and porous structures can be created to promote bone tissue regeneration and better implant results.

JLC3DP will launch titanium alloy materials in metal printing in 2025, and will update the news at that time. JLC3DP's professional 3D printing services can help you achieve the perfect balance of project quality, efficiency and innovation. Visit our website to learn more about our services and start your next groundbreaking project.