Titanium Grade 23 · print state
Titanium Grade 23 As Printed
Properties of the As Printed condition, compared with the other Grade 23 tempers.
Use only where high as-built strength is wanted and anisotropy, residual stress and low ductility are acceptable.
What is Grade 23 As Printed?
Grade 23 As Printed is Grade 23 in the As Printed condition — use only where high as-built strength is wanted and anisotropy, residual stress and low ductility are acceptable. Grade 23 As Printed has a yield strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,150 MPa (167 ksi) — stronger than 96% of titanium grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi). Grade 23 As Printed has a density of 4.42 g/cm³ (0.16 lb/in³), lighter than 96% of titanium grades. It melts at 1,604°C (2,919 °F). O is the default condition FabDigit quotes; As Printed is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 98% of titanium grades
- High strength — 1,050 MPa (152 ksi), better than 96% of titanium grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 9%, worse than 97% of titanium grades
- Poor heat conductor — 6.7 W/m·K (3.87 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 92% of titanium grades
- Low fracture toughness — 55 MPa·√m (50.1 ksi·√in), worse than 90% of titanium grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 1 % IACS, worse than 89% of titanium grades
Grade 23 As Printed properties
Typical room-temperature values for Grade 23 As Printed — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Grade 23 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the titanium grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
Grade 23 As Printed has a density of 4.42 g/cm³ (0.16 lb/in³), lighter than 96% of titanium grades. It melts at 1,604°C (2,919 °F).
Mechanical16
Grade 23 As Printed has a yield strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,150 MPa (167 ksi) — stronger than 96% of titanium grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
Thermal6
Grade 23 As Printed is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 6.7 W/m·K (3.87 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 92% of titanium grades. Thermal expansion is 8.6 µm/m·K (4.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Grade 23 As Printed conducts electricity at 1 % IACS, worse than 89% of titanium grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 53% of titanium grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Grade 23 As Printed takes about 700 MJ of energy and emits 45 kg of CO₂ — more than 74% of titanium grades. Typical recycled content is 15%.
Manufacturability8
Grade 23 As Printed's machinability is poor (17/100, worse than 89% of titanium grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability fair (35/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other Grade 23 tempers and conditions
Grade 23 is also supplied in 7 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the Grade 23 overview.
- ODefaultDefault stocked condition for bar, plate, sheet and implant blanks; best balance of strength, ductility and toughness.850 MPa yield · 33 HRC
- As PrintedUse only where high as-built strength is wanted and anisotropy, residual stress and low ductility are acceptable.1,050 MPa yield · 38 HRC
- STAPick for maximum strength in thinner sections (fasteners, high-load fittings) accepting reduced toughness and ductility.1,010 MPa yield · 36 HRC
- Stress RelievedChoose when residual stress from machining, forming, welding or AM must be removed with minimal loss of strength.890 MPa yield · 34 HRC
- HIPSpecify for castings and AM parts where internal porosity must be closed to reach wrought-level fatigue life.865 MPa yield · 33 HRC
- Beta AnnealedSelect for damage-tolerant thick sections where high fracture toughness and slow crack growth outrank yield strength.820 MPa yield · 33 HRC
Working with Grade 23 As Printed
Is Grade 23 easy to machine?
Low speed, high feed, rigid setup, sharp uncoated-carbide or PVD tools and flood coolant — heat concentrates at the edge and the alloy work-hardens and galls; avoid dwell and light rubbing passes.
Can Grade 23 be welded?
Excellent by GTAW, plasma, laser or EBW with full argon/vacuum shielding front and back plus trailing shield; keep interstitials low, weld clean bright metal, and stress relieve — no filler contamination or air exposure above ~400 °C.
Can Grade 23 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold formability is limited (large bend radii, high springback); hot form or size at 600–800 °C, or superplastically form near 900 °C in an inert/lubricated die.
What surface finishes work on Grade 23?
Polishes to mirror implant finish; passivate per ASTM F86, anodize or colour-anodize for identification, and consider shot peen, nitriding or PVD hard coats since bare Ti-6Al-4V has poor wear and galling resistance.
Grade 23 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alα stabiliser | 5.5 – 6.5 | 6 |
| Vβ stabiliser | 3.5 – 4.5 | 4 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.25 | 0.15 |
| OELI limit — key difference vs Grade 5 (0.20 max) | ≤ 0.13 | 0.1 |
| N | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| C | ≤ 0.08 | 0.02 |
| H0.0125 % for some product forms | ≤ 0.01 | 0.01 |
| YASTM F136 residual yttrium limit | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Other, each | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Other, total | ≤ 0.4 | — |
| Ti | balance | — |
Grade 23 As Printed — frequently asked
What is Grade 23 As Printed used for?
Grade 23 As Printed is typically used for orthopaedic implants such as hip and knee stems, spinal hardware, bone screws, plates and trauma fixation, dental implants and abutments, additively manufactured patient-specific implants and fracture-critical aerospace fittings. In short: ELI medical-grade titanium.
What is the yield strength of Grade 23 As Printed?
Grade 23 As Printed has a typical yield strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,150 MPa (167 ksi) — stronger than 96% of titanium grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is Grade 23 As Printed easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (17/100, worse than 89% of titanium grades). Low speed, high feed, rigid setup, sharp uncoated-carbide or PVD tools and flood coolant — heat concentrates at the edge and the alloy work-hardens and galls; avoid dwell and light rubbing passes.
Can Grade 23 As Printed be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Excellent by GTAW, plasma, laser or EBW with full argon/vacuum shielding front and back plus trailing shield; keep interstitials low, weld clean bright metal, and stress relieve — no filler contamination or air exposure above ~400 °C.
What surface finishes work on Grade 23 As Printed?
Polishes to mirror implant finish; passivate per ASTM F86, anodize or colour-anodize for identification, and consider shot peen, nitriding or PVD hard coats since bare Ti-6Al-4V has poor wear and galling resistance.
Can Grade 23 As Printed be formed, bent or molded?
Cold formability is limited (large bend radii, high springback); hot form or size at 600–800 °C, or superplastically form near 900 °C in an inert/lubricated die.
What is the maximum service temperature of Grade 23 As Printed?
Grade 23 As Printed is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Grade 23-O and Grade 23-STA?
O is the default condition — default stocked condition for bar, plate, sheet and implant blanks; best balance of strength, ductility and toughness. STA: pick for maximum strength in thinner sections (fasteners, high-load fittings) accepting reduced toughness and ductility. Yield strength is 850 MPa in O versus 1,010 MPa in STA.
Can FabDigit make parts in Grade 23 As Printed?
Yes — Grade 23 As Printed is available for CNC machining, sheet metal and 3D printing with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM F136 — Wrought Ti-6Al-4V ELI Alloy for Surgical Implant Applications (UNS R56401) — ASTM International (2022)
- ASTM B348 / B265 — Titanium and Titanium Alloy Bar, Billet, Strip and Plate (Grade 23) — ASTM International (2021)
- ISO 5832-3 — Implants for surgery, metallic materials, wrought Ti-6Al-4V alloy — ISO (2021)
- AMS 4907 / AMS 4930 — Ti-6Al-4V ELI sheet, plate and bar — SAE International (2020)
- ASTM F3001 — Additive Manufacturing Ti-6Al-4V ELI with Powder Bed Fusion — ASTM International (2022)
- Materials Properties Handbook: Titanium Alloys — ASM International (1994)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- MMPDS typical/design allowables for Ti-6Al-4V — Battelle/FAA (2023)
- Ti-6Al-4V ELI (Grade 23) mill and AM powder datasheets — Baoti / Western Superconducting / AP&C (2024)
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.