Titanium Grade 26
ASTM Grade 26 · UNS R52404
Grade 26 (UNS R52404) is a ruthenium-enhanced commercially pure titanium in the alpha/near-alpha family, giving palladium-grade crevice-corrosion resistance without palladium and replacing Grade 16 in some specifications.
Reference datasheet — Grade 26 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the Annealed condition
Grade 26 tempers and conditions
Grade 26 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Forged and annealed | Specify forged and annealed material to ASTM B381 F26 for thick-wall pressure-retaining valve bodies, flanges and fittings, giving 375 MPa yield and 25% elongation. | 375 | 480 | 25 | 160 HB | 3.1 % IACS |
AnnealedDefault mill annealed sheet/plate/bar/tube | Take the default mill annealed plate, sheet, bar or tube for general corrosion-resistant equipment, balancing formability and weldability at 380 MPa yield and 26% elongation. | 380 | 485 | 26 | 160 HB | 3.1 % IACS |
Grade 26H | Select the 26H variant when pressure-vessel design needs a higher allowable stress yet the yield must stay inside a tightened 275-450 MPa band to protect forming and welding. | 390 | 500 | 25 | 165 HB | 3.1 % IACS |
Cold worked and stress relieved | Pick cold worked and stress relieved bar, wire or small tube for fasteners, pump shafts and instrument fittings needing 540 MPa yield and tight tolerances; elongation falls to 18%. | 540 | 620 | 18 | 15 HRC | 3 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Grade 26 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
AW-Tube | As-welded tube | Supply form |
What is Grade 26?
Grade 26 (UNS R52404) is a ruthenium-enhanced commercially pure titanium in the alpha/near-alpha family, giving palladium-grade crevice-corrosion resistance without palladium and replacing Grade 16 in some specifications. Annealed product provides 380 MPa yield, 485 MPa tensile and 26% elongation at about 160 HB (82 HRB), with service to 400 °C, in sheet, plate, welded tube, bar and forgings. It welds without preheat or post-weld heat treatment but machines poorly (score 35) and forms only as well as Grade 2 (72). Grade 16 is the direct palladium-alloyed alternative. Grade 26 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). Grade 26 has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 485 MPa (70.3 ksi) — weaker than 73% of titanium grades. Elongation at break is 26% and the elastic modulus is 103 GPa (14.9 Msi).
What is Grade 26 used for?
- Chemical processing vessels and piping
- Flue gas desulfurization internals
- Heat exchanger tube bundles
- Hydrometallurgical autoclave components
- Brine and seawater handling hardware
- Acid service valve and pump bodies
- Vessel cladding and linings
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 26%, better than 86% of titanium grades
- High service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), better than 78% of titanium grades
- Easy to machine — 35/100, better than 78% of titanium grades
- Forms and bends easily — 72/100, better than 78% of titanium grades
- High electrical conductivity — 3.1 % IACS, better than 75% of titanium grades
Grade 26 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Grade 26-Annealed; bars are the position among titanium grades.
Physical3
Grade 26 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 26 has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 485 MPa (70.3 ksi) — weaker than 73% of titanium grades. Elongation at break is 26% and the elastic modulus is 103 GPa (14.9 Msi).
Thermal6
Grade 26 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 16.4 W/m·K (9.48 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 71% of titanium grades. Thermal expansion is 8.6 µm/m·K (4.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Grade 26 conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, better than 75% of titanium grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (96/100), better than 92% of titanium grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Grade 26 takes about 650 MJ of energy and emits 38 kg of CO₂ — less than 75% of titanium grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
Grade 26's machinability is fair (35/100, better than 78% of titanium grades); weldability excellent (85/100); formability very good (72/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the titanium family
Yield strength against density for every titanium grade FabDigit runs. Grade 26 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Grade 26
Is Grade 26 easy to machine?
Use low surface speed with high feed, rigid clamping, sharp carbide tooling and high-volume water-based coolant to limit friction heat and built-up edge. Chips are flammable, so keep swarf clear of the cutting zone.
Can Grade 26 be welded?
GTAW, PAW and EBW are all suitable, but inert-gas or vacuum protection with a trailing shield and back purge is mandatory and the bead must be bright silver. No preheat or post-weld heat treatment is required; matching Grade 26 or Grade 2 filler wire can be used.
Can Grade 26 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold formability equals Grade 2 titanium: bend radii should be at least 2–3t and springback is high. Warm-form complex parts at 200–400 °C and stress-relief anneal at 480–595 °C after forming.
Grade 26 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ruruthenium, cathodic depolarizing element | 0.08 – 0.14 | 0.1 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.3 | 0.15 |
| Omain interstitial element controlling strength | ≤ 0.25 | 0.15 |
| C | ≤ 0.08 | 0.02 |
| N | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Hsheet/bar limit; varies slightly with product form | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Residuals (each)each other element ≤ 0.1, total ≤ 0.4 | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Ti | balance |
What surface finishes work on Grade 26?
Pickle in nitric–hydrofluoric acid to remove scale, then polish or colour anodize. Avoid iron contamination and residual chlorides; anodizing or solid-film lubricant at assembly prevents galling.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on titanium parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Titanium Grade 26 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- R52404
How much does Grade 26 cost?
Grade 26 is a high-cost titanium ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Grade 26 — frequently asked
What is Grade 26 used for?
Grade 26 is typically used for chemical processing vessels and piping, flue gas desulfurization internals, heat exchanger tube bundles, hydrometallurgical autoclave components, brine and seawater handling hardware and acid service valve and pump bodies. In short: palladium-free crevice resistance; direct Grade 16 replacement; 400 °C service CP titanium.
What is the yield strength of Grade 26?
Grade 26 has a typical yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 485 MPa (70.3 ksi) — weaker than 73% of titanium grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Grade 26 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, better than 78% of titanium grades). Use low surface speed with high feed, rigid clamping, sharp carbide tooling and high-volume water-based coolant to limit friction heat and built-up edge. Chips are flammable, so keep swarf clear of the cutting zone.
Can Grade 26 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (85/100). GTAW, PAW and EBW are all suitable, but inert-gas or vacuum protection with a trailing shield and back purge is mandatory and the bead must be bright silver. No preheat or post-weld heat treatment is required; matching Grade 26 or Grade 2 filler wire can be used.
What surface finishes work on Grade 26?
Pickle in nitric–hydrofluoric acid to remove scale, then polish or colour anodize. Avoid iron contamination and residual chlorides; anodizing or solid-film lubricant at assembly prevents galling.
Can Grade 26 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold formability equals Grade 2 titanium: bend radii should be at least 2–3t and springback is high. Warm-form complex parts at 200–400 °C and stress-relief anneal at 480–595 °C after forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of Grade 26?
Grade 26 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Grade 26 Annealed and Grade 26 CW-SR?
Annealed is the default condition — take the default mill annealed plate, sheet, bar or tube for general corrosion-resistant equipment, balancing formability and weldability at 380 MPa yield and 26% elongation. CW-SR: pick cold worked and stress relieved bar, wire or small tube for fasteners, pump shafts and instrument fittings needing 540 MPa yield and tight tolerances; elongation falls to 18%. Yield strength is 380 MPa in Annealed versus 540 MPa in CW-SR.
How much does Grade 26 cost?
Grade 26 is a high-cost titanium ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM B265 — Titanium and Titanium Alloy Strip, Sheet, and Plate (Grade 26/26H) — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM B348 / B348M — Titanium and Titanium Alloy Bars and Billets — ASTM International (2021)
- ASTM B338 — Seamless and Welded Titanium Alloy Tubes for Condensers and Heat Exchangers — ASTM International (2022)
- ASTM B381 — Titanium and Titanium Alloy Forgings (F26) — ASTM International (2019)
- ASTM B861 / B862 — Titanium Seamless and Welded Pipe — ASTM International (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties of Nonferrous Alloys (Titanium) — ASM International (1990)
- Ruthenium-enhanced titanium (Ti-0.1Ru) corrosion and mechanical data — TIMET / ATI (2020)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.