| sent for a lot of applications (race cars). Titanium is 3-10x more expensive than aluminum, and 10-100x more than steel. Check this out: [ http://doc.tms.org/ezMerchant/prodtms.nsf/ProductLookupItemID/JOM-0402-40/ ]$FILE/JOM-0402-40F.pdf?OpenElement Titanium is readily weldable (not by gas welding or arc welding means though), and requires similar care as when welding stainless steels and nickel-based alloys (TIG, MIG, or EB welding techniques are common). It gets funky with alpha and beta transformations of the Ti upon cooldown, and the metal needs to be protected from grease and junk (including air) until the transition temp is passed (400ish C I believe). Titanium doesn't weld to most other "everyday" metals either, as it forms brittle intermetallics that would produce shabby weld joints. If you want to weld it to tantalum or niobium, it likes those metals... - keep cost in mind though... :) We use niobium (columbium) and tantalum everyday in boost motors and boost control systems, where cost is not so MUCH of an issue, but reliability of part/weld/etc., are the driver. Hope this helped, SS
____________________________________________________________________________________________________ "You have nothing without your health." Lou Guazzelli, whose time is of the essence. Prayers with you, Uncle Lou. In the end, the only thing we regret, are the chances we never took. My promise: I will obey the rules of the road. I will not drive like I'm delivering an organ. I will not purposely scare cows. I will not make light of gravity; and I will recognize the speed limits as strict law, and not just ballpark suggestions. Yeah, right! 
|