1、 Performance Breakthrough: Reshaping Petrochemical Material Standards
The performance advantage of TC4 titanium alloy rod is not a single dimensional improvement, but a synergistic breakthrough in corrosion resistance, lightweight, economy and other aspects, accurately matching the demanding requirements of the petrochemical industry.

Corrosion resistance: “protective armor” in extreme environments
In the production of petrochemicals, there are significant differences in the corrosive media of different process links. TC4 titanium alloy rods, with their unique crystal structure and surface oxide film characteristics, achieve comprehensive coverage of various corrosion scenarios.
Hydrochloric acid tolerance: In scenarios such as hydrochloric acid pickling processes in refineries and acidic wastewater treatment in chemical plants, equipment often faces dual tests of 30% concentration hydrochloric acid and high temperature of 80 ℃. In this environment, the annual corrosion rate of TC4 titanium alloy rod is controlled below 0.02mm, which is only 1/25 of 316L stainless steel. The dense titanium oxide film formed on its surface can effectively isolate the contact between hydrochloric acid molecules and the metal substrate. Even if the local film is damaged, it can quickly self repair in an acidic environment, avoiding continuous corrosion diffusion.
Anti hydrogen sulfide stress corrosion: In the process of natural gas extraction and purification, the combination of high concentration hydrogen sulfide and chloride is the “culprit” that causes stress corrosion cracking of metal materials. Under harsh conditions of H ₂ S partial pressure of 0.1MPa and Cl ⁻ concentration of 5 × 10 ⁴ mg/L, 316L stainless steel often cracks within a few months, while TC4 titanium alloy rods can still maintain structural stability without any signs of stress corrosion cracking, providing long-term safety guarantees for key equipment such as natural gas desulfurization towers and gathering pipelines.
Corrosion resistance: In scenarios such as crude oil pipelines and catalytic cracking units, solid particles contained in the medium can cause continuous erosion on the inner walls of the equipment, accelerating material wear and corrosion. The surface hardness of TC4 titanium alloy rod can reach HRC36, far exceeding 316L stainless steel. It can effectively resist the impact of high-speed media, while avoiding local corrosion caused by particle scratches on the surface oxide film, extending the service life of the equipment.

Lightweight and economical: the “dual engine” of cost reduction and efficiency improvement
Petrochemical equipment is mostly large pressure bearing devices, and the density and service life of materials directly affect the manufacturing cost, installation difficulty, and full life cycle cost of the equipment. TC4 titanium alloy rods have achieved breakthrough optimization in both dimensions.
Lightweight advantage: The density of TC4 titanium alloy is only 4.43g/cm ³, which is less than 60% of 316L stainless steel. Taking a hydrogenation reactor in a certain refinery as an example, if its internal components are made of TC4 titanium alloy rods, the overall weight can be reduced by more than 40% compared to stainless steel components of the same specification. This not only significantly reduces the load on the equipment itself, lowers the design strength requirements for the reactor shell and support structure, but also reduces the lifting costs during transportation and installation, especially for large equipment installed at high altitudes, which can significantly improve construction safety and efficiency.
Full life cycle economy: Although the initial procurement cost of TC4 titanium alloy rod is higher than that of 316L stainless steel, its economic advantages are extremely significant in long-term use. In typical petrochemical scenarios, the average service life of 316L stainless steel components is about 5-8 years, while the service life of TC4 titanium alloy rods can be extended to over 20 years, which is equivalent to reducing 2-3 replacement cycles. Combined with cost accounting for downtime losses, maintenance labor, spare parts procurement, etc., TC4 titanium alloy rods can reduce the full life cycle cost of equipment by 30% -50%, especially in projects such as ethylene cracking and natural gas long-distance pipelines that require high continuous production and difficult maintenance. Its economy is more prominent.
2、 Application scenario: Covering the core links of petrochemical industry
TC4 titanium alloy rod, with its precise performance matching, has been widely used in multiple key scenarios in the petrochemical industry, becoming the “core material” for equipment upgrading and replacement.

Refinery unit: Ensure stable operation of hydrogenation process
The hydrogenation reactor is the core equipment used in refineries to convert heavy oil into light oil. It needs to withstand high temperatures of 300-400 ℃ and high pressures of 10-20MPa, and the medium contains corrosive components such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. TC4 titanium alloy rod is mainly used for manufacturing reactor internals, such as distribution plate brackets, catalyst support grids, etc. Compared to traditional stainless steel components, TC4 titanium alloy can not only resist corrosion and creep under high temperature and pressure, but also reduce the internal load of the reactor through lightweight design, improving equipment operation stability. At the same time, in the manufacturing of heat exchanger tube bundles, heat exchange tubes made of TC4 titanium alloy rods can effectively remove acidic residues after washing with oleic acid, avoid tube bundle corrosion and leakage, ensure heat transfer efficiency, and reduce device energy consumption.

Natural gas desulfurization: solving the material problem in high sulfur gas fields
China has abundant high sulfur natural gas resources, but the strong corrosion characteristics of hydrogen sulfide and chloride during desulfurization have long relied on imported corrosion-resistant materials. The domestic application of TC4 titanium alloy rods has completely changed this situation. In the desulfurization tower, the packing bracket made of TC4 titanium alloy rod can withstand the erosion and corrosion of acidic gas-liquid mixtures, avoiding bracket fracture and packing collapse; In the regeneration tower, TC4 titanium alloy bolts replace traditional stainless steel bolts, eliminating the need for frequent disassembly and replacement. This not only reduces downtime for maintenance, but also avoids tower sealing problems caused by bolt corrosion failure, ensuring the continuous and stable operation of desulfurization processes and assisting in the safe development and utilization of high sulfur natural gas.

Ethylene cracking: addressing the challenge of high-temperature corrosion
The ethylene cracking furnace is a key equipment for producing ethylene, and the furnace tubes and related connectors need to operate at high temperatures of 800-900 ℃ for a long time, while facing corrosion and erosion from carbon black and sulfides in the cracking gas. TC4 titanium alloy rods are widely used in the manufacturing of cracking furnace support frames, rapid cooling device connectors, and other components due to their excellent high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance. Its mechanical stability at high temperatures can avoid deformation or fracture of components caused by thermal expansion and contraction; At the same time, the surface oxide film can effectively isolate the adhesion of carbon black particles and the corrosion of sulfides, prolong the operation cycle of the cracking furnace, reduce the frequency of shutdown coke cleaning and component replacement, and provide important guarantees for the high and stable production of ethylene plants.
3、 Domestic breakthrough: from “bottleneck” to “leader”
For a long time, the production technology of high-end titanium alloy materials has been monopolized by a few developed countries. The high-performance titanium alloy rods required by China’s petrochemical industry were highly dependent on imports, which not only resulted in high procurement costs but also long supply cycles, severely restricting the independent development of key equipment in the industry.
In recent years, China has made continuous breakthroughs in the research and production of titanium alloy materials. By optimizing the melting process and improving the rolling technology, the localization and mass production of TC4 titanium alloy bars have been achieved. At present, the performance indicators of domestically produced TC4 titanium alloy rods have reached the international advanced level, and some indicators have even surpassed it. Localization not only significantly reduces material procurement costs, but also provides customized specifications and performance parameters according to the personalized needs of domestic petrochemical enterprises, shortens supply cycles, and provides more flexible support for equipment manufacturing enterprises.
The domestic breakthrough of TC4 titanium alloy rod not only solves the bottleneck problem in the petrochemical industry, but also promotes the industry’s green and low-carbon transformation. Its lightweight characteristics reduce steel and energy consumption in the equipment manufacturing process; The long-life characteristic reduces the generation of waste components and minimizes environmental pollution; At the same time, the improvement of equipment operation stability also reduces energy waste and pollutant emissions caused by downtime due to malfunctions. In the future, with the wider application of TC4 titanium alloy rods in various scenarios and further optimization of their performance, it will continue to inject momentum into the high-quality development of the petrochemical industry, helping China move from a major petrochemical country to a strong petrochemical country.