Titanium Alloy: A Versatile Expert in the Field of Shipbuilding

2025-09-29

titanium alloy stands out among many materials due to its significant characteristics such as high strength, good corrosion resistance, and high heat resistance, and has become a subject of research and application in various fields. Various countries around the world have devoted themselves to the research and development of titanium alloy materials and promoted their widespread application in practice. Among them, titanium alloys have shown great potential for development in the field of ships. The following will provide a detailed introduction to their application.

Ship Structure: Deep Diving Tool

Although titanium and titanium alloys have high yield strength, inert gas protection is required during the welding process, making it more difficult to form compared to steel. Therefore, titanium alloys are less commonly used in surface ship structures. However, in submarines, deep-sea submersibles, and other vessels that require extremely high yield strength, density, and corrosion resistance, titanium and titanium alloys are particularly effective.

China has made remarkable achievements in the research and development of titanium alloys. In the 1980s, Ti80 alloy was successfully developed, which is used to manufacture pressure resistant shells for deep-sea submersibles and submarines. It has excellent properties such as high strength, toughness, corrosion resistance, and weldability. Under the conditions of a tensile strength of 880-925 MPa and a yield strength of 785-885 MPa, its fracture toughness and stress corrosion resistance are significantly better than Ti6Al4VELI alloy. In the 1990s, Ti91 titanium alloy was developed with a yield strength of up to 700MPa, providing strong support for the structural strength of submarines and deep-sea submersibles.

As an industry information platform, we have been closely monitoring the research and development progress of titanium alloys in the field of ship structures in China. The report provides a detailed record of the research and development background, performance characteristics, and practical applications of Ti80 and Ti91 alloys in shipbuilding. Through the report of us, industry insiders and outsiders can timely understand the latest achievements in China's titanium alloy field for ships, providing important references for the technological upgrading and product innovation of related enterprises.

Ship Coolers: An Efficient and Corrosion Resistant Choice

Titanium Materials and titanium alloy exhibit superior corrosion resistance in seawater compared to other alloys, and have higher strength and lower density compared to commonly used copper alloys. This characteristic makes it possible to ensure heat transfer efficiency by reducing the thickness of the pipe wall and increasing the seawater flow rate. Titanium heat exchangers are highly valued in fields such as nuclear submarines that require extremely high safety and reliability of equipment operation.

At present, the most widely used industrial pure titanium in the United States has special stress corrosion resistance in natural water, seawater, and various chlorides. In desalination equipment with seawater flow rates of 3-5 m/s, the fouling coefficient of the Titanium Tube Heat Exchanger is only 0.95-0.99, greatly improving the operating efficiency of the equipment. China has also successfully developed high-performance titanium alloys, such as Ti31 titanium alloy, which is widely used in waste heat removal coolers, pipelines, etc. It can withstand 180 ℃ high temperature corrosion in harsh working environments such as high-temperature seawater or high-speed seawater at room temperature, providing reliable guarantee for the stable operation of ship cooling systems.

We have conducted in-depth reporting on titanium alloys used in ship coolers. The report not only introduces the performance advantages of different titanium alloys at home and abroad, but also analyzes the significant effects of titanium heat exchangers in improving ship energy utilization efficiency and reducing maintenance costs through practical cases. These reports provide a scientific basis for shipbuilding companies to choose suitable cooler materials.

Ship piping: Dealing with harsh environments

Due to direct contact with seawater and mostly located at the bottom of the cabin, the working environment of ship to sea system pipelines is extremely harsh, and corrosion has always been a prominent problem that restricts their maximum efficiency.

In the 1970s, China successfully developed TA5 α - type titanium alloy (Ti-4Al-0.05B), which has high strength and a yield strength of not less than 490MPa for as cast ZTiAl4. It can be used for the manufacturing of pumps and valves in ship auxiliary systems, effectively solving the problem of pipeline corrosion. In the 1980s, Ti75 titanium alloy was developed, which increased its strength by 50MPa while maintaining good comprehensive performance. Its impact toughness and fracture toughness were 1.4 times and 1.2 times that of TA5, respectively. Its stress corrosion fracture toughness was twice that of TA5, and it had excellent cold and hot processing performance, casting performance, and low impurity sensitivity. Ti75 titanium alloy fills the gap of 730MPa marine titanium alloy in China and reaches the international advanced level. At present, the reciprocating saltwater pump and the double seat double ball valve stem made of Ti75 alloy have been used normally, providing solid support for the reliable operation of ship pipeline systems.

We have systematically reported the development history and application effects of titanium alloys for ship pipelines. By interviewing researchers and shipbuilding companies, we gained a detailed understanding of the research and development process and technological breakthroughs of TA5 α and Ti75 titanium alloys. At the same time, the report also showcases the application of pipeline components made of these titanium alloys in actual ships, allowing readers to intuitively feel the important role of titanium alloys in solving the corrosion problem of ship pipelines.

Ship propeller: a high-performance propeller

Titanium alloy has the characteristics of high strength, light weight, excellent resistance to cavitation erosion, and fatigue resistance, making it an ideal material for manufacturing propellers. The lifespan of propellers made of ZTi6Al4V is three times that of copper alloy propellers, greatly improving the propulsion efficiency and reliability of ships.

China began researching ZTi6Al4V alloy in the late 1960s and successfully applied it to hydrofoil propellers in the 1970s. After 20 years of practical verification, the propeller has shown excellent performance and has made significant contributions to the development of hydrofoil boats in China. In addition, China has successfully developed high-strength cast titanium alloys with better welding performance, higher toughness, and better resistance to cavitation erosion. They have been used in the manufacturing of propellers for a certain hydrofoil speedboat, further improving the technical level of ship propellers in China.

We have tracked and reported on the research and application of titanium alloys for ship propellers. The report introduces the design principles, manufacturing processes, and performance in actual navigation of different titanium alloy propellers. By comparing the service life and maintenance costs of copper alloy propellers and titanium alloy propellers, the advantages of titanium alloy propellers are highlighted. These reports provide valuable technical information for ship design units and propeller manufacturing enterprises, promoting the continuous progress of ship propeller technology in China.

In summary, titanium alloys have extensive and important applications in various aspects of ship structures, coolers, pipelines, and propellers. With the continuous advancement of technology, the application prospects of titanium alloys in the field of shipbuilding will become even broader, injecting strong impetus into the development of China's shipbuilding industry. And we will continue to pay attention to the development trends in this field, providing more timely, accurate, and in-depth reports for the industry.

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