Material Insight
Titanium Grade 2 vs Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V): Industrial Application Selection Guide
By YKWiki Engineering Team · Published 2026-05-29
Pure Titanium vs. the Aerospace Alloy
Titanium Grade 2 (commercially pure, CP Ti) and Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V, the titanium workhorse alloy) represent fundamentally different material philosophies. Grade 2 maximizes corrosion resistance and formability at the expense of strength. Grade 5 adds aluminum (6%) as an alpha stabilizer and vanadium (4%) as a beta stabilizer, creating an alpha-beta alloy with strength exceeding many steels — at 45% lower density.
Strength vs. Ductility
| Property | Grade 2 (CP Ti) | Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 345 MPa | 895 MPa (annealed) |
| Yield Strength | 275 MPa | 828 MPa |
| Elongation | 20% | 10% |
| Density | 4.51 g/cm³ | 4.43 g/cm³ |
Selection rule of thumb: Grade 2 for chemical process equipment, heat exchangers, and marine components where corrosion resistance is paramount and loads are moderate. Grade 5 for aerospace structural, medical implants, and high-performance automotive where the 2.6× strength advantage justifies the 30-40% higher material cost and reduced formability.
References & Standards
- ASTM International. Steel & Alloy Standards. astm.org
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO). iso.org
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Materials Data. nist.gov
- ASM International. Materials Information Society. asminternational.org
- World Steel Association. Steel Statistical Yearbook. worldsteel.org