Grade 3 Titanium Sheet

Grade 3 commercially pure titanium sheet (UNS R50550) delivers the highest strength among CP titanium flat products suitable for forming and welding, with a minimum tensile strength of 448 MPa (65 ksi) per ASTM B265-20a — approximately 30% above Grade 2 with virtually identical corrosion resistance. Supplied per ASTM B265-20a, AMS 4900, ASME SB-265, and MIL-T-9046 with EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificate included. Applications span chemical processing pressure vessels, marine structures, aerospace airframe panels, and desalination equipment.

Quick Specifications

Technical Overview

Grade 3 commercially pure titanium (UNS R50550) is an unalloyed, alpha-phase titanium in which elevated interstitial oxygen content — up to 0.35 wt% per ASTM B265-20a — raises yield strength to a minimum of 379 MPa (55 ksi) while preserving the full corrosion immunity of the CP titanium family. The passive titanium oxide (TiO₂) film that forms spontaneously in air provides effective protection from pH 2 to pH 12, seawater, wet chlorine, hypochlorite solutions, and most oxidizing and mildly reducing acids. At a density of 4.51 g/cm³, Grade 3 sheet offers a strength-to-weight ratio that exceeds most corrosion-resistant steels and most nickel alloys in the same thickness range.

Grade 3 sheet is produced in the annealed condition per ASTM B265-20a (equivalent ASME SB-265 for ASME pressure equipment). Aerospace procurement follows AMS 4900 (sheet and strip) or the superseded MIL-T-9046 / AMS-T-9046 where legacy contracts require it. Medical flat stock is covered by ASTM F67. Each heat is issued with an EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificate traceable to melt heat, confirming chemical composition, mechanical test results, and dimensional compliance. Standard surface finish is annealed and pickled (mill finish); bright-annealed and polished finishes are available for hygienic and optical applications.

Weldability is rated excellent using GTAW (TIG) in an inert argon or helium atmosphere with Grade 3 or Grade 2 filler. Post-weld stress relief at 482–538°C (900–1000°F) for 45 minutes restores optimal joint properties. Cold forming is feasible on standard press-brake and hydropress equipment; minimum bend radius guidance per AMS 4900 applies.

Chemical Composition — Grade 3 Titanium per ASTM B265-20a

Mechanical Properties — Grade 3 Titanium per ASTM B265-20a (Minimum Requirements)

Physical & Thermal Properties — Grade 3 Titanium

Applications

Grade 3 titanium sheet is selected when Grade 2’s corrosion resistance is required but load calculations or structural design demand higher minimum yield strength.

• Chemical Processing Equipment — Shell-and-tube heat exchangers, reactor liners, and piping flanges in contact with wet chlorine, sulfuric acid (dilute), and hypochlorite bleach solutions where Grade 3’s passive oxide layer resists uniform corrosion and crevice attack.
• Desalination & Water Treatment — Evaporator tube sheets and multi-effect distillation panels where seawater-facing components need Grade 3’s combination of corrosion immunity and structural stiffness under thermal cycling.
• Marine & Offshore Structures — Hull cladding, subsea valve bodies, and sacrificial anode housings where the strength premium over Grade 2 reduces material thickness and panel weight without sacrificing corrosion performance.
• Aerospace Airframe Panels — Non-critical skin panels, bulkhead sheetwork, and ducting assemblies per AMS 4900 where Alpha-phase microstructure provides predictable fatigue behavior and certified MTC traceability.
• Power Generation — Condenser tube sheets and cooling water manifolds in coastal or brackish-water power plants where biofouling resistance and immunity to chloride pitting outperforms stainless steel.
• Medical Device Fabrication — Surgical instrument trays, implant housings, and sterilization baskets per ASTM F67 where biocompatibility, autoclave resistance, and freedom from nickel release are required by design.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Grade 2 and Grade 3 titanium sheet?
Grade 3 titanium sheet has a higher maximum oxygen content (0.35 wt% vs. 0.25 wt% for Grade 2), which raises its minimum yield strength to 379 MPa (55 ksi) versus 275 MPa (40 ksi) for Grade 2. Corrosion resistance, weldability, and the passive oxide mechanism are essentially identical between the two grades. Grade 3 is specified when structural calculations require the strength increment; Grade 2 remains the higher-volume grade for most chemical and marine applications.

What standards cover Grade 3 titanium sheet?
Grade 3 titanium flat product is governed by ASTM B265-20a (primary commercial standard for strip, sheet, and plate), AMS 4900 (aerospace sheet and strip), ASME SB-265 (ASME pressure equipment — identical requirements to ASTM B265), MIL-T-9046 / AMS-T-9046 (military and legacy aerospace), and ASTM F67 (medical implant-grade CP titanium). The UNS designation is R50550.

Does Grade 3 titanium sheet come with a Mill Test Certificate?
Yes. Each shipment includes an EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificate issued by the production mill, traceable to heat/lot number, confirming chemical composition (per ASTM B265-20a Table 1) and mechanical test results (per ASTM E8). Third-party inspection reports and NADCAP-certified test data are available on request.

What thickness and width ranges are available for Grade 3 titanium sheet?
Standard sheet supply range is 0.30 mm to 6.0 mm thick, with widths up to 2,000 mm and lengths up to 6,000 mm. Plate from 6.0 mm to 25.0 mm is available from the same ingot source to the same ASTM B265-20a chemical and mechanical requirements. Custom cut-to-size is available with lead times confirmed at RFQ.

Is Grade 3 titanium sheet weldable?
Grade 3 titanium sheet welds readily using GTAW (TIG) with Grade 3 or Grade 2 filler wire (AWS A5.16 ERTi-3 or ERTi-2) in a full argon-shielded atmosphere at less than 50 ppm oxygen/moisture. Post-weld heat treatment at 482–538°C (900–1000°F) for 45 minutes is recommended to relieve residual stresses. The weld zone retains the base metal’s corrosion resistance when shielding gas is properly maintained.

When should Grade 4 be used instead of Grade 3?
Grade 4 (UNS R50700) provides the highest strength of the four commercially pure grades — minimum UTS 550 MPa (80 ksi) and YS 480 MPa (70 ksi) — but has reduced ductility (minimum 15% elongation) compared to Grade 3. Grade 4 is typically selected for applications requiring maximum strength in thin-gauge sheet, such as hydraulic tubing and surgical implant substrates. Grade 3 is preferred when forming and welding operations are extensive and Grade 4’s reduced ductility would create fabrication challenges.

What is the lead time for Grade 3 titanium sheet?
Standard thickness sheet (0.50–3.0 mm) is typically shipped within 5–10 business days from stock. Non-standard thicknesses, widths, or tolerances, and plate in the 6–25 mm range, carry lead times of 10–15 business days depending on mill availability. Precise lead times are confirmed at the time of RFQ.

What is MOQ for Grade 3 titanium sheet?
The minimum order quantity is 50 kg. Orders below 50 kg may be accommodated as custom cut pieces subject to a small-order surcharge. Contact the sales team for confirmation at RFQ.