The production of titanium tube follows a similar approach to that of over metals. The key difference in the materials production comes at the early phases when the raw material is processed. The process known as the Kroll Process is the steps taken to turn titanium raw material (the sponge) into a refined state from which it can be worked. This state is as an ingot. The ingot subsequently undergoes various rolling and pressing steps to move it into a workable round cylinder.
The titanium cylinder is carefully sized in accordance with the tube shape that it goes one to produce. It is the all important punching stage in which a hole is punched out of the target to form the initially, be it short and wide tube shape.
The next phase is the rolling phase, the titanium tube is continually worked through rolling machines to the required length and dimensions. It can take many rolls and a good deal of care to ensure that the tube does not fail during the process and it is common certainly amongst the titanium alloys for that to happen due to high strength and respective forces that need to applied.
Once the tube has been rolled into the correct length and dimensions then it is onto surface finishing, both internal and external surfaces are finished to an agreed specification which is given in as the roughness of the surface. The Ra value.
Once the tube has been completed it is then subjected to several important tests and later inspections. The typical tests that are needed to undergo are ultrasonic testing which checks for internal defects, hydraulic for pressure, and inspection checks the dimesions of the tubes. For further information on titanium tubes visit our product page at titanium tube and speak to one of sales team to understand how we can support your titanium piping requirements.