Kormax Titanium Grade 5: Why Engineers Use Titanium in Marine Settings

Why Titanium Is Ideal for Marine Engineering? 

The unparalleled performance of titanium in marine settings has led engineers to refer to it as “ocean metal”. While other metals such as steel and copper are prone to pitting, crevice corrosion, and microbiologically influenced corrosion, titanium is unique in its resistance to the corroding effects of saltwater and the marine atmospheric environment.

Titanium’s other great advantage is its high strength-to-weight ratio, an invaluable property in marine and offshore engineering. It is roughly equal to steel for tensile strength but 45% lighter (i). Compared to aluminium, it is 60% heavier but twice as strong (ii).

From an economic standpoint, titanium is relatively affordable when compared with many steel or nickel alloys. Beyond the initial investment, the durability of titanium also offers long-term savings as a result of its longer service life and reduced need for maintenance and repair.  

Titanium is used for an ever-expanding variety of marine and offshore settings, especially where weight and corrosion present potential problems. Some of its uses include nuclear submarines, deep submersibles, atomic energy icebreakers, seawater pipelines, minesweepers, hydrofoil ships, to name a few (iii). Below are some notable examples of Titanium’s use in marine engineering.

• • Submarines 
    Russian Typhoon-class submarines use an outer shell made of 9000t of titanium. One important benefit of titanium for submarine builders is that it is non-magnetic, making it easier for their vessels to avoid detection by other ships. The metal’s low density allows the submarines to deep-dive and achieve high speeds with low noise, while the exceptional corrosion resistance means they require less maintenance (iv).

• • Hydrofoil Ships  
    Titanium was first used by engineers in the United States and China to build propellers for hydrofoil speed boats in 1972. It has since been used for hardware and fittings, including rudders, bearings, nuts, and masts. Carbon fibre and titanium are said to be the favoured materials of boating engineers to reduce the weight and cost of their vessels while also adding strength to hulls, airframes, and other components in the latest America’s Cup boats (v).

• • Power Station Condensers 
    Nuclear and coastal power plants use condensers to cool exhaust steam from turbines to below boiling point in order to convert them back into water. The traditional steel and copper alloys used in these condensers are susceptible to pitting corrosion, stress, and fatigue from saltwater, resulting in a shortened service life. Engineers began turning to titanium for its strength and corrosion resistance, and condensers made from titanium have been shown to have a longer service life as well as improved heat-exchange efficiency (vi). The stability of these converters translates to economic benefits resulting from the lower maintenance and repair costs and prevention of leakages.

• • Offshore Drilling
    The use of titanium in offshore drilling platforms has increased significantly in recent years, often as a composite in combination with steel. As with power station condensers, the toughness and corrosion resistance of titanium in marine environments results in longer service life for drill pipes, conical stress joints, and other parts that are subject to pitting when made from traditional materials (vii).

Ask Kormax About Our Titanium Products

As industry leaders in the manufacture and supply of engineering materials, Kormax has built a reputation for providing high-quality products and cutting-edge technology to industry professionals in NZ and beyond. To enquire about Titanium Grade 5or any of our other products, visit the contact section of our website. You can get in touch by phone 0800 789 987 or email us at sales@kormaxdesign.co.nz today.

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