ASTM B348 Grade 9 Titanium Rod / Bar
- Standard: ASTM B348
- Grade: Grade 9
- Material type: Ti-3Al-2.5V low-alloy alpha-beta titanium alloy
- UNS: R56320
- Room-temperature structure: Typical alpha-beta microstructure, predominantly alpha
- Condition: Annealed
- Dia: φ7 ~ φ300 mm
- Typical Industrial Bar Length: 200–3000 mm
Customizable sizes are available, while specific product parameters should be confirmed per the applicable standard edition and order.
Product Overview
ASTM B348 Grade 9 titanium rod/bar is a Ti-3Al-2.5V low-alloy alpha-beta titanium bar produced and tested to ASTM B348/B348M. The alloy is UNS R56320, with 2.5% to 3.5% aluminum and 2.0% to 3.0% vanadium. Its room-temperature microstructure is typically alpha plus beta, predominantly alpha with a limited beta phase fraction.
Compared with commercially pure Grade 2 titanium, Grade 9 offers substantially higher strength and specific strength while retaining good cold formability, weldability and corrosion resistance. Compared with Grade 5, it is generally lower in strength but less highly alloyed and well suited to applications requiring forming, low weight and moderate strength. It is commonly supplied annealed; formal acceptance shall follow the contract edition, condition, dimensions and supplementary requirements.
Grade 9 bar is suitable for aircraft hydraulic-system components, lightweight structural parts, fasteners, turned and milled parts, bicycles and sporting goods, marine hardware, chemical-process equipment components and other engineered parts requiring corrosion resistance, weldability and higher strength.
| Specification | Details |
| Industrial Standard | ASTM B348 |
| Industrial Grades | Gr9 |
| Diameter Range | Ø7 – Ø300 mm |
| Typical Diameters | Ø7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 150, 200 mm |
| Typical Industrial Bar Length | 200–3000 mm; cut-to-length available |
| Surface / Supply Condition | Hot-rolled black surface / Turned / Ground |
| Precision Tolerance | h6 / h7 / h8 available subject to diameter, finishing process and order confirmation |
Main Characteristics
- Moderate strength and excellent strength-to-weight ratio: ASTM B348 minimum tensile strength is 620 MPa, minimum 0.2% offset yield strength is 483 MPa and minimum elongation is 15%, substantially above commercially pure Grade 2.
- Good cold formability: Grade 9 generally offers better cold bending, flaring, reducing and general forming latitude than high-strength Grade 5, supporting parts that need both strength and subsequent forming.
- Good weldability: TIG, MIG, plasma, laser and electron-beam welding may be used with complete high-purity inert-gas shielding of the weld pool, face, root and hot heat-affected zone.
- Machinable and hot-workable: The alloy can be forged, hot rolled, drawn, turned, milled, drilled, ground, bent and stamped. Use rigid equipment, sharp tooling and non-chlorinated cutting fluid; avoid dwell, rubbing and localized overheating.
- Low density and essentially non-magnetic behavior: Density is about 4.48 g/cm³, supporting lightweight design and some magnetic-response-sensitive uses.
- Supply condition must be defined: Grade 9 is a low-alloy alpha-beta titanium alloy. Annealed is the common supply condition. Solution treatment, aging, stress relief, microstructure, hardness or special strength ranges must be stated in the order and qualified by an approved process when required.
Chemical Composition
ASTM B348 Grade 9 chemistry is controlled to the following mass-percent limits:
| Element | ASTM B348 Grade 9 requirement |
| Nitrogen, N | ≤0.030% |
| Carbon, C | ≤0.080% |
| Hydrogen, H | ≤0.015% |
| Iron, Fe | ≤0.250% |
| Oxygen, O | ≤0.150% |
| Aluminum, Al | 2.5%–3.5% |
| Vanadium, V | 2.0%–3.0% |
| Residual elements, each | ≤0.100% |
| Residual elements, total | ≤0.400% |
- Aluminum and vanadium are the defining alloying elements. Aluminum stabilizes alpha and vanadium stabilizes beta; their controlled balance governs Grade 9 strength, fabricability and alpha-beta microstructure.
- Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen and iron must be controlled. Oxygen, nitrogen and carbon raise strength but can reduce ductility; excessive hydrogen can form brittle hydrides, while iron segregation can affect microstructural and property uniformity.
- Final chemistry shall be confirmed by the original mill test report for the applicable heat. Any more-stringent drawing, AMS, ASME, ASTM B861/B338 or customer requirement must be stated in the order.
Mechanical Requirements
The following room-temperature tensile requirements apply to ASTM B348 Grade 9 bar. The specified edition, dimensions, specimen form, test orientation and supply condition must also be considered for formal acceptance.
| Property | Requirement | Status |
| Ultimate tensile strength, Rm | ≥620 MPa | ASTM minimum |
| 0.2% offset yield strength, Rp0.2 | ≥483 MPa | ASTM minimum |
| Elongation in the specified gauge length | ≥15% | ASTM minimum |
| Reduction of area, Z | ≥25% | ASTM minimum |
Typical room-temperature properties (not guaranteed)
| Property | Reference Value |
| Ultimate tensile strength | Approx. 620–760 MPa |
| 0.2% offset yield strength | Approx. 483–620 MPa |
| Elongation | Approx. 15–25% |
| Reduction of area | Typically approx. 25–35% |
| Elastic modulus | Approx. 100–110 GPa |
HTN Supply and Quality Services
ASTM B348 Grade 9 titanium bar is produced by evaluated, qualified mill resources. HTN confirms technical requirements from customer drawings and purchase specifications, selects a mill with appropriate capability, reviews the original MTR and heat/lot records, and verifies the relationship among material standard, dimensions, quantity, condition and inspection documents.
When agreed in the contract, HTN can coordinate independent retesting, ultrasonic examination, PMI, cut-to-length service, turning or grinding, EN 10204 3.1 documentation and third-party inspection, together with export packing, shipping documents and international delivery.
Typical Applications
- Aircraft hydraulic-system parts, lightweight structural components, fasteners and other moderate-strength corrosion-resistant components;
- bicycle frames, sporting goods, outdoor equipment and other parts requiring high specific strength and good formability;
- pump shafts, valve stems, valves, flanges, fasteners and corrosion-resistant machined parts;
- desalination, marine engineering, shipboard, chemical, energy and general industrial equipment;
- tubing-support, structural and custom engineering components requiring good cold formability, weldability and corrosion resistance;
- other Grade 9 titanium alloy parts used after evaluation against the applicable design code and service conditions.
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Fabrication and Processing Characteristics
Machining
Grade 9 can be turned, milled, drilled, ground and threaded. Titanium alloys have relatively low thermal conductivity, noticeable elastic recovery and a tendency to gall. Use sharp, rigid tooling, stable feed, appropriate cutting speed and abundant non-chlorinated cutting fluid. Avoid dwell, rubbing and chip buildup.
Cold forming
Grade 9 has good room-temperature formability and can be bent, flared, reduced, stamped, drawn and spun. Complex or tight-radius shapes should be validated by trial or qualified procedure based on section, surface condition and deformation level. Use staged forming, intermediate annealing or warm forming when needed.
Hot working and heat treatment
Hot forging, rolling, extrusion and drawing can be used to produce bar. Working temperature, reduction, soak time, cooling path and atmosphere must be controlled to limit grain coarsening, oxidation, alpha case and microstructural nonuniformity. Annealing is commonly used to stabilize structure, relieve stress and obtain the specified strength-ductility balance; any strengthening heat treatment must follow customer requirements and a qualified procedure.
Welding
Grade 9 has good weldability. The weld pool, face, root and hot heat-affected zone require complete high-purity inert-gas shielding. Critical weldments should be qualified for joint strength, ductility, corrosion behavior and any required post-weld treatment.
Machining safety: Fine titanium chips and powders are combustible and must be collected, stored and handled away from ignition sources under applicable safety requirements.
Typical Physical Properties
The following are typical reference values near room temperature and are not mandatory lot-acceptance requirements of ASTM B348:
| Physical property | Typical value |
| Density | Approx. 4.48 g/cm³ |
| Elastic modulus | Approx. 100–110 GPa |
| Specific heat at room temperature | Approx. 0.52 J/(g·K) |
| Thermal conductivity | Approx. 7–9 W/(m·K) |
| Electrical resistivity | Approx. 1.27 μΩ·m |
| Mean CTE, 20–100°C | Approx. 9.0–9.7×10⁻⁶/K |
| Beta transus | Approx. 930–950°C |
| Melting temperature | Approx. 1600–1700°C |
| Poisson’s ratio | Approx. 0.30–0.32 |
| Magnetism | Generally regarded as non-magnetic |
Physical-property references: public Ti-3Al-2.5V technical data and industry data. Values vary with temperature, heat, orientation, section size and thermal condition.
Corrosion Resistance
Grade 9 corrosion resistance is principally based on a continuous, tightly adherent titanium-oxide passive film. In many oxidizing, aqueous and seawater environments, it is broadly comparable with commercially pure titanium while providing higher strength. Actual performance depends on medium, temperature, concentration, oxygen availability, flow, crevices and dissimilar-metal contact. For reducing acids or severe crevice-corrosion duty, palladium-bearing grades such as Grade 7 generally offer a higher corrosion margin.
Environments in Which Grade 9 Generally Performs Well
- Natural seawater, marine atmospheres, salt spray, brines and many aqueous environments;
- many neutral aqueous solutions, general industrial water, desalination and applicable heat-transfer service;
- nitric acid and many oxidizing acidic environments;
- evaluated chloride-bearing aqueous solutions and wet-process media;
- applicable duties in lightweight corrosion-resistant structures, marine hardware, aircraft hydraulic systems and general industrial equipment.
Environments Requiring Careful Evaluation
- Fluoride-bearing media or hydrofluoric acid;
- hot, concentrated, oxygen-starved or strongly corrosive acids containing reducing metal ions;
- completely dry chlorine, anhydrous methanol or halide-contaminated methanol;
- red fuming nitric acid, molten chloride salts, liquid mercury, cadmium and other special chemical environments;
- pickling, cathodic protection or electrochemical conditions that may promote hydrogen pickup;
- hot crevices, deposits, dissimilar-metal contact and stressed locations.
Engineering caution: Grade 9 offers higher strength than commercially pure titanium, but is not universally suitable for all acids, halides or oxygen-starved media. Product literature cannot replace actual-service corrosion testing and engineering review.
Typical Production Process for Grade 9 Titanium Rod
- Raw-material and alloying preparation: Select qualified titanium sponge, aluminum-vanadium master alloy and approved clean revert, while controlling oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, iron and foreign contamination.
- Electrode preparation: Compact the charge into electrode blocks and assemble the melting electrode, ensuring uniform aluminum and vanadium distribution and exclusion of oil, moisture and iron-bearing foreign matter.
- Vacuum melting and ingot production: Use VAR, electron-beam cold-hearth melting or another approved titanium melting route. The melting route and number of melts follow the qualified mill process and purchase requirements.
- Ingot conditioning and chemistry: Crop, peel or grind as necessary, complete required chemical analysis, retain heat identification and perform necessary internal-quality controls.
- Breakdown forging: Upset, draw or multi-directionally forge to break down the cast structure, improve internal uniformity and produce billet for further working.
- Alpha-beta hot working and bar formation: Forge, hot roll, extrude, draw or combine processes to produce the required section, controlling temperature, reduction and cooling path for a stable, uniform alpha-beta microstructure.
- Annealing and optional thermal treatment: Anneal under a qualified procedure to stabilize microstructure, relieve stress and obtain the required strength-ductility balance. Special thermal conditions follow the purchase order and process specification.
- Surface conditioning, straightening and finishing: Turn, grind, blast, pickle, straighten, cut, chamfer or polish as required. Pickling must limit hydrogen pickup and meet surface-quality requirements.
- Final inspection, documentation and delivery: Verify chemistry, tensile properties, dimensions, tolerances, surface and identification. UT, PMI, microstructure, hardness, heat-treatment records or third-party inspection are performed when ordered. Maintain full correlation among material, labels, heat, lot, condition and original MTR.
