Titanium Grade 23-CW (Cold worked)
Supply condition
ASTM Grade 23 · UNS R56401, R56407 · EN Ti6Al4V ELI, 3.7165 · GB TC4-1, TC4ELI · ISO 5832-3
Standard condition for ELI implant wire and small-diameter bar needing higher strength and straightness.
Values for the CW condition
Other Grade 23 tempers and conditions
Grade 23 is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at Grade 23.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
annealed above the β transus (≈1015–1050 °C) then slow cooled + stabilise | Select for damage-tolerant thick sections where high fracture toughness and slow crack growth outrank yield strength. | 820 | 900 | 11 | 33 HRC | 1 % IACS |
ODefault Annealed | Default stocked condition for bar, plate, sheet and implant blanks; best balance of strength, ductility and toughness. | 850 | 930 | 15 | 33 HRC | — |
Hot isostatic pressed | Specify for castings and AM parts where internal porosity must be closed to reach wrought-level fatigue life. | 865 | 950 | 15 | 33 HRC | — |
hot worked, not annealed | Rough stock condition for forging billet and heavy bar that will be machined and heat treated later. | 870 | 950 | 13 | 34 HRC | 1 % IACS |
480–650 °C stress relief after cold work, welding or printing | Choose when residual stress from machining, forming, welding or AM must be removed with minimal loss of strength. | 890 | 970 | 13 | 34 HRC | — |
CWThis page Cold worked | Standard condition for ELI implant wire and small-diameter bar needing higher strength and straightness. | 960 | 1,050 | 10 | 36 HRC | 1 % IACS |
Solution treated and aged | Pick for maximum strength in thinner sections (fasteners, high-load fittings) accepting reduced toughness and ductility. | 1,010 | 1,100 | 10 | 36 HRC | — |
laser/electron-beam powder bed fusion, as-built (no post-heat treatment) | Use only where high as-built strength is wanted and anisotropy, residual stress and low ductility are acceptable. | 1,050 | 1,150 | 9 | 38 HRC | — |
What is Grade 23-CW?
Grade 23-CW is Grade 23 supplied in the CW condition — standard condition for ELI implant wire and small-diameter bar needing higher strength and straightness. Grade 23-CW has a yield strength of 960 MPa (139 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) — stronger than 90% of titanium grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 113 GPa (16.4 Msi). Grade 23-CW has a density of 4.43 g/cm³ (0.16 lb/in³), lighter than 89% of titanium grades. It melts at 1,604°C (2,919 °F). O is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CW is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 98% of titanium grades
- High strength — 960 MPa (139 ksi), better than 90% of titanium grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 93% of titanium grades
- Poor heat conductor — 6.7 W/m·K (3.87 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 92% of titanium grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 1 % IACS, worse than 89% of titanium grades
- Limited formability — 20/100, worse than 83% of titanium grades
Grade 23-CW properties
Typical room-temperature values for Grade 23-CW; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Grade 23 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among titanium grades.
Physical3
Grade 23-CW has a density of 4.43 g/cm³ (0.16 lb/in³), lighter than 89% of titanium grades. It melts at 1,604°C (2,919 °F).
Mechanical16
Grade 23-CW has a yield strength of 960 MPa (139 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) — stronger than 90% of titanium grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 113 GPa (16.4 Msi).
Thermal6
Grade 23-CW 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-CW 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-CW 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-CW's machinability is poor (18/100, worse than 83% of titanium grades); weldability very good (75/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Grade 23-CW
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-CW — frequently asked
What is Grade 23-CW used for?
Grade 23-CW 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-CW?
Grade 23-CW has a typical yield strength of 960 MPa (139 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) — stronger than 90% of titanium grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is Grade 23-CW easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (18/100, worse than 83% 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-CW be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). 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-CW?
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-CW 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-CW?
Grade 23-CW 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-CW?
Yes — Grade 23-CW 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.