Titanium 15-3-3-3

Age at 538 C(1000 F) for 8 hours, air cool.

Stress relieve at 538-649 C(1000-1200 F). For full solution annealing, soak at 1450 F and air cool.

This alloy is currently used primarily for airframe applications although it has also been considered for a variety of aerospace fasteners, tubing and tankage components.

The cold working characteristics of this alloy are similar to those found in austenitic stainless steels. In multiple forming operations, intermediate stress relieving is recommended to offset the alloy's tendency to work harden. Post-work annealing is recommended to reattain maximum performance characteristics.

Rough forge at 982-1093 C( 1800-2000 F), finish at 816-927 C(1500-1700 F).

This alloy can be hot or cold formed and will exhibit characteristics equivalent to those found in a 1/8 to 1/4 hard austenitic stainless steel. It is strip-producible and highly cold formable.

Solution treat at 788-816 C(1450-1500 F), 3-30 minutes followed by air cooling.

Hot forming will reduce both the springback and required forming forces, and will increase the overall ductility of the material.

As a family, titanium and its alloys have developed a mystique as a nightmare to machine. This is simply not the case. Experienced operators have compared its characteristics to those found in 316 stainless steel. Recommended practice includes high coolant flow(to offset the material's low thermal conductivity), slow speeds and relatively high feed rates. Tooling should be tungsten carbide designations C1-C4 or cobalt type high speed tools.

Beta Transus (F +/- 25) 1400

15-3-3-3 is an age hardenable, metastable-beta alloy used primarily in sheet metal applications due to its excellent strength and cold formability characteristics. It is available from mill producers but is not solidly supported by any of the known national distributors. Beta Transus (F +/- 25) 1400.

Rated as "good" in terms of weldability.