ASTM F1295 Ti-6Al-7Nb Titanium Wire
- Standard: ASTM F1295 (or contract-specified edition)
- Grade: Ti-6Al-7Nb (no ASTM grade number)
- UNS: R56700
- Supply form: Coil, spool or cut straight length
- Condition: Annealed, cold-worked or hot-worked
- Diameter Range: Ø0.03–Ø7.0 mm
Customizable sizes are available, while specific product parameters should be confirmed per the applicable standard edition and order.
Product Overview
ASTM F1295 titanium wire is wrought Ti-6Al-7Nb alpha-beta alloy wire for surgical implant manufacture, UNS R56700. Niobium replaces the vanadium used in Ti-6Al-4V. The alloy combines high specific strength, good corrosion resistance and established medical-processing capability. Ti-6Al-7Nb must not be identified as ASTM Grade 5 or Grade 23.
Wire may be supplied in coils, on spools or as cut straight lengths for orthopedic, trauma, spinal, dental and other surgical-implant components. ASTM F1295 controls implant raw material; the finished device still requires validation of size, condition, cold work, microstructure, surface integrity, fatigue, cleaning, sterilization, biological safety and regulatory compliance.
| Specification | Details |
| Industrial Standard | ASTM F1295 |
| Grades | Ti-6Al-7Nb |
| Diameter Range | Ø0.03–Ø7.0 mm |
| Typical Diameters | Ø0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0 mm |
| Supply Form | Coil / Spool or straightened and cut wire |
Medical-use boundary: ASTM F1295-compliant wire is medical-device raw material, not an approved finished implant. The device manufacturer remains responsible for design, forming/joining, surface treatment, cleaning, sterilization, biological evaluation, risk management and regulatory compliance.
Main Characteristics
- Vanadium-free medical alpha-beta alloy: Niobium acts as the beta stabilizer. ASTM F1295 Ti-6Al-7Nb is a different alloy from ASTM F136 Ti-6Al-4V ELI and ASTM F1472 Ti-6Al-4V; specifications, identification and reports are not interchangeable.
- Controlled alpha-beta chemistry: Al, Nb, Ta, Fe and the interstitial elements O, C, N and H require heat-specific control for consistent strength, ductility, microstructure and drawing response.
- Good biocompatibility: A stable TiO2 passive film and extensive clinical use support its role as a common implant material. The finished device still requires biological evaluation under applicable regulations and standards such as ISO 10993.
- Good corrosion resistance: Performance is generally excellent in saline, body fluids and many chloride environments, but fretting, crevices, dissimilar-metal coupling, fluoride media and surface contamination require device-level evaluation.
- Weldable with strict shielding: Qualified laser, resistance, electron-beam or GTAW/TIG processes may be used. The pool, root and hot heat-affected zone require full inert-gas protection. Fine-wire joining must also control local melting, heat-affected-zone embrittlement and dimensional distortion.
- High strength with limited cold formability: Wire can be drawn, straightened, coiled and cold-bent to a limited extent, but has less room-temperature forming margin and greater springback than unalloyed titanium. Performance depends on diameter, annealed/cold-worked condition, surface quality and residual stress; complex forming requires lot-specific process qualification.
Chemical Composition
The following mass-percent requirements apply to ASTM F1295 Ti-6Al-7Nb (UNS R56700). Formal purchasing and acceptance are governed by the contract-specified ASTM edition and the original mill material report:
| Element | ASTM F1295 Ti-6Al-7Nb requirement |
| Aluminum, Al | 5.50-6.50% |
| Niobium, Nb | 6.50-7.50% |
| Tantalum, Ta | ≤0.50% |
| Iron, Fe | ≤0.25% |
| Oxygen, O | ≤0.20% |
| Carbon, C | ≤0.08% |
| Nitrogen, N | ≤0.05% |
| Hydrogen, H | ≤0.009% |
| Titanium, Ti | Balance |
- Technical basis: Current ASTM F1295 scope and requirements; typical physical values additionally reference engineering data for Ti-6Al-7Nb / UNS R56700.
- Aluminum and niobium: Al is 5.50-6.50% and Nb is 6.50-7.50%. Their balance produces an alpha-beta microstructure; chemistry uniformity and thermomechanical processing affect drawing response and final-device properties.
- Interstitials and iron: O, Fe, C, N and H affect strength, ductility, toughness and hydrogen-embrittlement risk. The hydrogen maximum is 0.009%; values copied from conventional Ti-6Al-4V are not applicable.
- Tantalum: Ta is limited to 0.50% maximum. Do not add yttrium or generic “each/total other element” limits unless they appear in the contract or applicable edition.
- Titanium content: The specification states Titanium: Balance. A nominal grade or medical-grade claim does not replace heat-specific analysis, the material report and contract testing.
Mechanical Properties
ASTM F1295 specifies minimum room-temperature tensile properties for bar and wire by condition. Annealed and hot-worked material: UTS 900 MPa, 0.2% yield strength 800 MPa, elongation 10% and reduction of area 25%, all minimum. Cold-worked material: UTS 1100 MPa minimum; yield strength, elongation and reduction of area remain 800 MPa, 10% and 25% minimum. Other conditions may be agreed. For material under 1.6 mm in diameter or thickness, the elongation method is negotiated; typical values must not replace acceptance requirements.
| Condition | ASTM F1295 minimums | Note |
| Annealed | UTS 900 MPa; YS 800 MPa; A 10%; RA 25% | All are minimum values |
| Hot worked | UTS 900 MPa; YS 800 MPa; A 10%; RA 25% | All are minimum values |
| Cold worked | UTS 1100 MPa; YS 800 MPa; A 10%; RA 25% | All minimum; other conditions by agreement |
ASTM F1295 Ti-6Al-7Nb Minimum Mechanical Properties for Bar and Wire
| Property | Ti-6Al-7Nb wire reference |
| Annealed/hot-worked UTS | ≥900 MPa |
| Cold-worked UTS | ≥1100 MPa |
| 0.2% yield strength | ≥800 MPa for all three listed conditions |
| Elongation / reduction of area | ≥10% / ≥25%; gauge-length rules apply |
Important: ASTM F1295 mechanical minimums must be applied with actual diameter, delivery condition, specimen form and gauge length. The table provides product-description reference ranges and does not replace the official size table in the contract edition, original mill report or lot acceptance. Raw-material compliance alone does not approve a finished implant.
HTN Supply and Quality Documentation
HTN organizes supply of ASTM F1295 Ti-6Al-7Nb medical titanium wire to customer purchase requirements. Material is produced by qualified titanium-mill resources. Original mill reports, heat/coil traceability, chemistry, mechanical properties and microstructure records may be supplied as agreed. HTN reviews edition, diameter, tolerance, condition, surface, straightness or coil requirements, joint restrictions and packaging, and can arrange independent retesting and applicable surface-continuity inspection.
Typical Applications
- raw material for orthopedic cerclage wire, fixation systems and tension-band components;
- fine-diameter fixation or connecting components in spinal, trauma, cranio-maxillofacial and dental devices;
- surgical suturing, anchoring, elastic or precision connecting components, subject to device-design validation;
- medical wire stock for precision machining, coiling, braiding or forming;
- medical-device parts requiring high specific strength, good corrosion resistance and stable forming or joining response;
- coil, spool, cut-straight and precision-finished wire supplied to customer drawings;
- medical-device research, prototypes and custom implant material;
- international projects when ISO 5832-11, regulatory and customer supplementary requirements are also met.
Application boundary: ASTM F1295 Ti-6Al-7Nb wire is raw material for surgical implant manufacture, not an approved finished implant. The final device must separately meet applicable regulations, design validation, fatigue evaluation, biological evaluation, cleaning, sterilization and traceability requirements.
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Fabrication and Machining Characteristics
Drawing, Finishing and Dimensional Control
Ti-6Al-7Nb wire is commonly produced by qualified multiple melting, ingot breakdown, wire-rod rolling, multiple cold- or warm-drawing passes, intermediate annealing where needed, final-condition processing, straightening and surface finishing. Pass reduction, dies, lubricant, tension and temperature require control.
Coiling, straightening and forming
Wire may be supplied in coils, on spools or as cut straight lengths. Straightening and coiling response depends on diameter, annealed condition, surface quality and residual cold work. Coil mandrel, repeated bending and device-forming processes should be qualified on the actual lot to avoid tight-radius cracking, tool damage and excessive local work hardening.
Annealing and heat treatment
ASTM F1295 permits annealed, cold-worked or hot-worked supply. Stress relief, when required, should be stated on the drawing or purchase order. Processing must deliver the specified properties and a fine dispersion of alpha and beta phases, without continuous alpha at prior-beta grain boundaries or coarse elongated alpha platelets.
Welding and joining
Qualified laser, resistance, electron-beam or GTAW/TIG joining may be used. Remove oil, oxides and drawing residue before joining and fully shield hot metal. Because fine-wire welds have concentrated thermal cycles, the finished device must validate joint microstructure, strength, fatigue, corrosion resistance and cleanliness.
Typical Physical Properties
The following are typical engineering values for Ti-6Al-7Nb near room temperature. They are not routine ASTM F1295 lot-acceptance requirements and vary with chemistry, microstructure, orientation, diameter, cold work and heat treatment:
| Physical property | Reference value (not ASTM acceptance) |
| Density | Approx. 4.52 g/cm³ |
| Elastic modulus at room temperature | Approx. 105-115 GPa |
| Thermal conductivity at room temperature | Approx. 7 W/(m·K) |
| CTE near room temperature | Approx. 9×10⁻⁶/K |
| Melting range | Approx. 1600-1660°C |
| Poisson ratio | Approx. 0.33-0.34 |
| Crystal structure at room temperature | Alpha + beta |
| Magnetism | Essentially nonmagnetic |
| Specific heat at room temperature | Approx. 520-560 J/(kg·K) |
Physical-property reference: Engineering data for Ti-6Al-7Nb / UNS R56700. Use measured values, the original mill report and customer specifications for design and acceptance.
Korrosionsbeständigkeit
Ti-6Al-7Nb forms a spontaneous, renewable TiO₂ passive film and generally resists saline, body fluids and many aqueous chlorides. Actual wire performance also depends on scratches, drawing residue, fretting, crevices, dissimilar-metal coupling, fluoride media, residual stress and cleaning or sterilization residue.
Environments in Which Ti-6Al-7Nb Generally Performs Well
- Saline and many simulated-body-fluid environments;
- humid air and high-purity water;
- neutral chloride solutions;
- many oxidizing environments;
- properly controlled cleaning and passivation processes;
- many medical-device sterilization processes after device validation;
- long-term tissue contact without fretting;
- validated orthopedic, spinal and dental implant environments.
Environments Requiring Careful Evaluation
- Fluoride cleaners, hydrofluoric acid or high-fluoride oral conditions;
- local acidification in oxygen-starved crevices;
- combined fretting, wear and corrosion;
- galvanic coupling with unsuitable dissimilar metals;
- cathodic hydrogen charging or improper electrochemical treatment;
- strong reducing acids;
- hot concentrated salts or unusual disinfection chemicals;
- areas containing particles, residues or surface damage;
- new uses lacking device-level corrosion and biological validation.
Engineering caution: Biocompatibility, fatigue and body-fluid corrosion performance are not determined by grade alone. Wire cleanliness, microstructure, surface scratches, drawing residue, residual stress, cold work, fretting, wear, crevices, dissimilar metals, fluoride exposure and sterilization residue can affect the final device.
Typical Industry Manufacturing Route for ASTM F1295 Ti-6Al-7Nb Titanium Wire
- Raw-material selection and charge preparation: Use qualified titanium, aluminum and niobium sources plus approved clean revert; closely control Al, Nb, Ta, Fe, O, C, N and H and prevent high- and low-density inclusions.
- Electrode preparation: Homogenize, compact and weld consumable electrodes while avoiding high-density inclusions, low-density inclusions, oil, moisture and foreign contamination.
- Melting and ingot production: Use a qualified multiple-melting route suitable for reactive metals and meeting ASTM F1295 plus purchase requirements. Control chemistry uniformity, inclusions and ingot quality; the specified route and number of melts follow the applicable standard and order.
- Ingot conditioning and wire-rod rolling: Crop unsuitable ends, remove surface defects, break down the cast structure by forging/rolling, and roll to wire rod suitable for drawing. Thermomechanical processing should produce a fine alpha-beta dispersion without continuous alpha at prior-beta grain boundaries or coarse elongated alpha platelets.
- Drawing and intermediate annealing: Draw through multiple passes with controlled dies, lubrication, tension, pass reduction and temperature. Use intermediate annealing where needed to restore ductility and control microstructure and residual stress.
- Final annealing and surface conditioning: Apply the ordered final anneal or specified cold-work control; remove scale, alpha case and drawing residue; prevent hydrogen pickup and iron contamination; and achieve the ordered microstructure, properties and clean surface.
- Straightening, coiling and finishing: Supply cut straight lengths, coils or spools as ordered, controlling diameter, tolerance, roundness, straightness/cast, surface roughness, weld count and coil weight.
- Cleaning: Use validated mechanical or chemical cleaning to prevent oil, abrasive, iron, chlorinated-cleaner and pickling residue. Final implant precision cleaning and sterilization remain the device manufacturer responsibility.
- Inspection: Verify chemistry, tensile properties, diameter, surface and identification by heat or lot, and examine microstructure and surface contamination as required. Eddy-current testing, wire continuity, straightness/cast, roughness or supplementary examinations follow the order. Ultrasonic testing is not universal for fine wire.
- Identification, packaging and traceability: Maintain one-to-one correspondence among heat, lot, coil/spool, wire and report. Use clean, dry, scratch-resistant packaging to prevent tangling, mix-ups and cross-contamination.
Manufacturing and inspection note: ASTM F1295 specifies chemistry, mechanical properties, microstructure and surface-contamination requirements. Diameter, tolerance, delivery condition, supplementary melting requirements, coil/spool/straight form, weld restrictions, straightness or cast, roughness, continuity testing, clean packaging, EN 10204 3.1 documentation and third-party inspection must be confirmed in the purchase order.
