Titanium Grade 16-AW (As-welded deposit)
Heat-treated state
ASTM Grade 16 · UNS R52402
Reference condition for welded tube and fabricated vessels; weld metal matches base strength but ductility is somewhat lower.
Values for the AW condition
Other Grade 16 tempers and conditions
Grade 16 is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at Grade 16.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault mill annealed sheet, plate, bar, tube and forgings | Standard commercial condition for all product forms; best combination of formability, weldability and corrosion performance. | 380 | 485 | 28 | 150 HB | — |
Grade 16H | Choose when ASME code design stresses need the 58 ksi minimum UTS; chemistry and processing are identical to Grade 16, only the certified tensile floor differs. | 400 | 500 | 25 | 160 HB | 3.1 % IACS |
AWThis page As-welded deposit | Reference condition for welded tube and fabricated vessels; weld metal matches base strength but ductility is somewhat lower. | 400 | 500 | 18 | 165 HB | 3.1 % IACS |
Cold worked + stress relieved | Use for fasteners, small-diameter tubing and machined parts needing higher strength and better surface/straightness than annealed stock. | 520 | 620 | 16 | 200 HB | 3 % IACS |
What is Grade 16-AW?
Grade 16-AW is Grade 16 heat treated to AW — reference condition for welded tube and fabricated vessels; weld metal matches base strength but ductility is somewhat lower. Grade 16-AW has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) — weaker than 68% of titanium grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 105 GPa (15.2 Msi). Grade 16-AW has a density of 4.51 g/cm³ (0.163 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of titanium grades. It melts at 1,660°C (3,020 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; AW is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 17 W/m·K (9.82 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 84% of titanium grades
- High electrical conductivity — 3.1 % IACS, better than 75% of titanium grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 60 MPa·√m (54.6 ksi·√in), worse than 83% of titanium grades
Grade 16-AW properties
Typical room-temperature values for Grade 16-AW; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Grade 16 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among titanium grades.
Physical3
Grade 16-AW has a density of 4.51 g/cm³ (0.163 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of titanium grades. It melts at 1,660°C (3,020 °F).
Mechanical16
Grade 16-AW has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) — weaker than 68% of titanium grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 105 GPa (15.2 Msi).
Thermal6
Grade 16-AW is rated for continuous service to 315°C (599 °F). It conducts heat at 17 W/m·K (9.82 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 84% of titanium grades. Thermal expansion is 8.6 µm/m·K (4.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Grade 16-AW conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, better than 75% of titanium grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (94/100), better than 80% of titanium grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Grade 16-AW takes about 620 MJ of energy and emits 38 kg of CO₂ — less than 97% of titanium grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
Grade 16-AW's machinability is poor (34/100, better than 74% of titanium grades); weldability excellent (85/100); formability fair (50/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Grade 16-AW
Is Grade 16 easy to machine?
Machine like CP Ti Grade 2: rigid setup, sharp uncoated-carbide or coated tools, low surface speed (25–45 m/min), heavy positive rake, high feed and flood coolant to avoid work hardening, galling and chip fires.
Can Grade 16 be welded?
Excellent GTAW/PAW/EBW weldability with full inert-gas or trailing-shield/backing protection; use matching Gr16 or Gr2/ERTi-2 filler, keep interpass clean and below ~150 °C, and avoid any oxygen/nitrogen pickup (straw-to-blue tint indicates contamination).
Can Grade 16 be formed, bent or molded?
Forms cold like Grade 2 with generous bend radii (2–3 t) and allowance for high springback; warm forming at 200–400 °C eases severe draws, and hot working/forging is done at 800–950 °C.
What surface finishes work on Grade 16?
Pickle in HNO3/HF after hot work or welding to remove alpha case; colour anodizing and passivation are routine, while plating is rarely used — avoid iron smearing from steel tooling to keep corrosion performance.
Grade 16 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Pdpalladium addition for reducing-acid/crevice protection | 0.04 – 0.08 | 0.06 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.3 | 0.15 |
| Oprincipal strengthener | ≤ 0.25 | 0.16 |
| C | ≤ 0.08 | 0.02 |
| N | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| H0.0125 % max for bar/billet per ASTM B348 | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Residuals (each)total residuals 0.40 max | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Ti | balance | — |
Grade 16-AW — frequently asked
What is Grade 16-AW used for?
Grade 16-AW is typically used for chemical process vessels and linings, reducing-acid piping and fittings, heat exchanger tube and tubesheets, brine and chloride service valve bodies, pressure vessel heads and nozzles and hydrometallurgy autoclave internals. In short: low-Pd Grade 7 substitute; crevice-resistant CP titanium; highly weldable corrosion grade.
What is the yield strength of Grade 16-AW?
Grade 16-AW has a typical yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) — weaker than 68% of titanium grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Grade 16-AW easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (34/100, better than 74% of titanium grades). Machine like CP Ti Grade 2: rigid setup, sharp uncoated-carbide or coated tools, low surface speed (25–45 m/min), heavy positive rake, high feed and flood coolant to avoid work hardening, galling and chip fires.
Can Grade 16-AW be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (85/100). Excellent GTAW/PAW/EBW weldability with full inert-gas or trailing-shield/backing protection; use matching Gr16 or Gr2/ERTi-2 filler, keep interpass clean and below ~150 °C, and avoid any oxygen/nitrogen pickup (straw-to-blue tint indicates contamination).
What surface finishes work on Grade 16-AW?
Pickle in HNO3/HF after hot work or welding to remove alpha case; colour anodizing and passivation are routine, while plating is rarely used — avoid iron smearing from steel tooling to keep corrosion performance.
Can Grade 16-AW be formed, bent or molded?
Forms cold like Grade 2 with generous bend radii (2–3 t) and allowance for high springback; warm forming at 200–400 °C eases severe draws, and hot working/forging is done at 800–950 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of Grade 16-AW?
Grade 16-AW is rated for continuous use to about 315°C (599 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Grade 16 Annealed and Grade 16 CW-SR?
Annealed is the default condition — standard commercial condition for all product forms; best combination of formability, weldability and corrosion performance. CW-SR: use for fasteners, small-diameter tubing and machined parts needing higher strength and better surface/straightness than annealed stock. Yield strength is 380 MPa in Annealed versus 520 MPa in CW-SR.
Sources
- ASTM B265 — Titanium and Titanium Alloy Strip, Sheet and Plate — ASTM International (2020)
- ASTM B348 — Titanium and Titanium Alloy Bars and Billets — ASTM International (2021)
- ASTM B338 / B861 / B862 — Titanium Tube and Pipe — ASTM International (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Corrosion-resistant titanium grades (Ti-Pd/Ti-Ru) data sheets — TIMET / Baoti (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.