Weld Creations provides titanium welding services to manufacturers across Southern California. We TIG weld commercially pure titanium and Ti-6Al-4V with complete inert-gas shielding (primary torch gas, a trailing shield and a back purge), because titanium only stays tough when it never touches air while it’s hot. Our welding is certified to AWS D17.1, the aerospace fusion welding standard, which includes titanium alloys.
Why titanium is different
Titanium is light, strong and highly corrosion resistant, and it’s unforgiving to weld. Above roughly 800°F (425°C), it rapidly absorbs oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen. Those interstitial elements make the weld and heat-affected zone hard and brittle, even if the weld looks sound. Contamination can also come from the part itself: oils, fingerprints, shop dust and the oxide layer on the surface.
So titanium welding is mostly about control:
- Control of the atmosphere. Argon covers the weld face, the cooling metal behind the torch and the root side.
- Control of cleanliness. The joint is prepared, cleaned and welded without being recontaminated.
- Control of heat. Heat input is kept only as high as the joint needs.
How we weld titanium
Joint preparation. Joints are machined or cut and deburred. Surface oxide is removed with dedicated carbide tools or stainless brushes used only on titanium. Then the joint and filler wire are degreased with a clean solvent such as acetone. Chlorinated solvents are never used. Parts are handled with clean gloves and welded soon after cleaning.
Shielding. Titanium needs three layers of protection:
| Shielding | What it protects |
|---|---|
| Torch gas through a large gas lens | The molten pool and the arc |
| Trailing shield | The solidified but still-hot weld metal behind the torch |
| Back purge | The root side of the joint |
Shielding stays in place until the weld has cooled below the temperature where it reacts with air. For complex parts, we can weld inside a purged enclosure.
Filler selection. Commercially pure grades are typically welded with matching CP filler (for example ERTi-2 for Grade 2). Ti-6Al-4V is commonly welded with ERTi-5 or ERTi-5ELI (AWS A5.16). We confirm the filler against your drawing or specification.
Reading the weld. Titanium tells you how well it was shielded. Bright silver indicates good shielding. Light straw may be acceptable depending on your specification. Darker straw, blue, purple, gray or white powdery surfaces indicate increasing contamination and are generally rejected. Discolored titanium is not fixed by brushing it clean, because the contamination is in the metal.
Titanium grades we weld
- Commercially pure (CP) Grades 1–4. Grade 2 is the workhorse for corrosion-resistant equipment, chemical processing and marine hardware.
- Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V). The high-strength alloy used across aerospace, defense and high-performance applications.
- Grade 9 (Ti-3Al-2.5V). Common in tubing for aerospace hydraulic and structural applications.
Applications
- Aerospace components and hardware. Brackets, housings, ducting and test hardware. See aerospace welding.
- Chemical and process equipment. Corrosion-resistant components for aggressive environments where stainless won’t last.
- Medical and scientific equipment. Lightweight frames, fixtures and components.
- Precision industrial parts. Weldments where weight, strength and corrosion resistance matter.
Dissimilar metals: what not to do
Titanium cannot be conventionally fusion welded to steel, stainless steel or aluminum. The metals form brittle intermetallic compounds in the weld. Assemblies that combine titanium with other metals need mechanical joints or specialized transition methods. If your design calls for mixed materials, send it over and we’ll recommend a joining approach for your engineer to approve.
Designing titanium weldments
Good titanium welds start at the design stage:
- Give the gas somewhere to go. Closed sections need purge inlets and vents so the root side can be fully shielded.
- Allow torch and trailing-shield access. A trailing shield needs room to follow the torch along the joint.
- Specify the weld color acceptance. State the acceptable discoloration on the drawing so everyone inspects to the same standard.
- Minimize weld length where possible. Shorter, well-placed welds reduce heat input, distortion and inspection effort.
Why Weld Creations
Titanium rewards exactly what TIG welding does best: precise heat control and clean shielding. We’re AWS D17.1 certified, and we bring aerospace discipline to every titanium job, from single prototypes to production runs. Machining, finishing and additional inspection are available through our partner network. See our capabilities.
Request a titanium welding quote
Send the drawing, titanium grade, thickness, quantity, any weld class or acceptance criteria, and your timeline. We reply within one business day.