Ametek develops titanium strip with gauges as thin as 0.004"

Ametek Specialty Metal Products has developed a Ti 6/4 ELI (Grade 23) titanium strip with gauges as small as 0.004".

Ametek’s proprietary technology uses a cold rolling and annealing process. Cold rolling eliminates the need to remove as much as 50 percent of the starting material via grinding to achieve ultra-thin thicknesses, according to the company. It also eliminates the problem of grinding material being embedded in the surface of the finished strip. Annealing significantly lowers hydrogen content and removes residual stresses, according to the company.

This photomicrograph compares the microstructure of a conventional hot-rolled Ti 6/4 titanium strip (left) and an Ametek cold-rolled and annealed Ti 6/4 titanium strip (right).

Ametek Specialty Metal Products partnered with Hamilton Precision Metals—both units of Ametek Inc.—to develop the titanium strip. The strip’s high strength, fracture resistance and compatibility with the human body make it suitable for pacemakers and other medical implants, according to Ametek Specialty Metal Products.

Ametek’s Ti 6/4 ELI titanium alloy strip is available in sheets up to 6" wide with thicknesses ranging from 0.004 to 0.015".

Ametek Specialty Metal Products, Wallingford, Conn., produces metal powders, master alloys, clad metals, specialty wire products, metal strip, engineered shaped components, thermal management products, foil and precision strip and coined parts.

Hamilton Precision Metals, Lancaster, Pa., specializes in rolling specialty metal strip and foil to the tight tolerances and thin gauges. Its engineering and manufacturing capabilities allow it to achieve thicknesses down to 0.00006" or 1.5µm, according to the company.

Posted July 11