Material Basics

Titanium Grades: A Complete Guide to Titanium Alloys and Their Applications

3 min read • Updated September 2026

The combination of a high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent mechanical properties, and outstanding corrosion resistance makes titanium grades the ideal material choice for many critical applications.

Because the allotropic behavior of titanium allows diverse changes in microstructure through variations in thermomechanical processing, a broad range of properties and applications can be achieved with a minimum number of titanium grades. This is especially true for titanium alloys with a two-phase alpha plus beta (a+ß) crystal structure.

The Most Widely Used Titanium Grade: Ti-6Al-4V

The most widely used titanium grade is the Ti-6Al-4V alpha-beta alloy. This titanium alloy is well understood and highly tolerant of variations in fabrication operations, even though its room-temperature shaping and forming characteristics are relatively poor compared with steel and aluminum. Because Ti-6Al-4V has limited section-size hardenability, it is most commonly used in the annealed condition.

Titanium Grades Available in Bar and Billet Form

Commercially pure titanium grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 are available in bar and billet. Several titanium alloys are also commonly available in bar and billet form, including Ti-6Al-4V (grades 5 and 24), Ti-5Al-2.5Sn (grade 6), Ti-0.2Pd (grades 7 and 11), Ti-3Al-8V-6Cr-4Zr-4Mo (also known as BETA-C), Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo, Ti-8Al-1Mo-1V, Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn, Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al (TIMETAL 10.2.3), Ti-4Al-4Mo-2Sn (IMI 550), Ti-4Al-4Mo-4Sn-0.5Si-0.1C (IMI 551), Ti-15Mo (IMI 205), and TIMETAL 100.

Titanium Grades Available in Casting Form

Titanium alloys available in casting form include commercially pure titanium grades 2, 3, and 4, along with Ti-6Al-4V (grades 5 and 24), Ti-0.2Pd (grade 7), Ti-5Al-2.5Sn (grade 6), Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al (TIMETAL 15.3), TIMETAL 1100, and Ti-5.8Al-4Sn-3.5Zr-0.7Nb (IMI 834).

Classification of Titanium Alloys

By application, titanium alloys can be divided into three main groups: corrosion-resistant grades, high-strength grades, and high-temperature grades. By structure, there are three types of titanium alloys: alpha alloys, alpha-beta alloys, and beta or near-beta alloys.

Table 1. Titanium Alloy Classification

Classification	Typical Grades / Alloys	Key Characteristics	Typical Applications
Commercially Pure Titanium	Grades 1–4	Excellent corrosion resistance, good formability	Chemical processing, marine, medical
Alpha Alloys	Ti-5Al-2.5Sn	Good weldability, good high-temperature performance	Aerospace, cryogenic service
Alpha-Beta Alloys	Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo	Excellent balance of strength, toughness and corrosion resistance	Aerospace, biomedical, marine
Beta / Near-Beta Alloys	Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al, Ti-15Mo, BETA-C	Very high strength, good hardenability, excellent formability	Aerospace landing gear, high-strength components

Explore More in the Titanium Series

This article classifies titanium by its commercially pure grades and alloy structures. The related guides in the Titanium series cover the topics you will need alongside it. Titanium Properties details the strength, low density, and corrosion resistance that distinguish one grade from another. Titanium Specifications explains the designation systems used to define each grade precisely, and Titanium Standards sets out the frameworks that govern those designations across different regions. Together, they connect grade classification with the properties, designations, and standards behind it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the main types of titanium grades?

Titanium grades fall into commercially pure titanium and titanium alloys. By application, they are grouped as corrosion-resistant, high-strength, and high-temperature grades, while by structure they are classified as alpha, alpha-beta, and beta or near-beta alloys.

What is the most widely used titanium grade?

Ti-6Al-4V, an alpha-beta alloy, is the most widely used titanium grade. It is well understood, tolerant of fabrication variations, and most commonly used in the annealed condition.

What are commercially pure titanium grades?

Commercially pure titanium is available as grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, which differ in their levels of strength and purity. These grades are commonly supplied in bar and billet form and are valued for their corrosion resistance.

Which titanium grades are available as castings?

Casting-form titanium alloys include commercially pure grades 2, 3, and 4, plus Ti-6Al-4V (grades 5 and 24), Ti-0.2Pd (grade 7), Ti-5Al-2.5Sn (grade 6), TIMETAL 15.3, TIMETAL 1100, and IMI 834.

Why is Ti-6Al-4V used in the annealed condition?

Ti-6Al-4V has limited section-size hardenability, so it is most commonly supplied and used in the annealed condition to achieve a reliable balance of properties.