Forming Methods of Titanium Tube
Jan 08, 2021
Titanium tubes can be formed by two methods: cold and hot forming.
Cold forming
Considering the elongation of metal, the titanium tube is formed at low speed and room temperature. Therefore, a tensile test will be conducted. The manufacturer will eliminate springback by applying heat setting on the formed titanium tube.
Thermoforming
It is a well-known fact that the ductility (including bendability and stretch formability) of titanium increases with increasing temperature. Therefore, titanium tubes are usually made at high temperatures. As the temperature increases, the forming operation of the titanium tube becomes easier. Using this method, springback is actually eliminated when forming grade 5 titanium (Gr5 TC4).
Titanium tube bending
The titanium tube is bent using conventional equipment. The mandrel bending machine is the first choice for small radius bending. In order to minimize the sagging tendency of titanium, the pipe bending equipment and wiper mold must be properly lubricated. For best results, the bending process should be performed at a low speed.
