Titanium Ti Grade 38-STA (Solution treated and aged)
Heat-treated state
UNS R54250 · ASTM Grade 38 · also TIMETAL 62S
Choose when peak strength is needed in section thicknesses that can be through-hardened; ductility and formability drop sharply.
Values for the STA condition
Other Ti Grade 38 tempers and conditions
Ti Grade 38 is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at Ti Grade 38.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot Rolled + Annealed | Use for plate above ~6 mm and for machined structural blanks where toughness matters more than gauge control. | 790 | 880 | 16 | 29 HRC | 1 % IACS |
AnnealedDefault mill annealed sheet, plate and bar | Default stocked condition: best balance of strength, ductility and cold formability for sheet parts. | 810 | 900 | 15 | 30 HRC | — |
Cold Rolled + Annealed | Pick for thin, flat, cold-formable sheet (deep-draw/brake-form at room temperature) with tight thickness tolerance. | 850 | 930 | 14 | 31 HRC | 1 % IACS |
Cold worked | Strain-hardened strip, wire or fastener stock where strength is wanted straight from the mill without heat treatment. | 970 | 1,050 | 7 | 34 HRC | 1 % IACS |
STAThis page Solution treated and aged | Choose when peak strength is needed in section thicknesses that can be through-hardened; ductility and formability drop sharply. | 1,010 | 1,100 | 10 | 36 HRC | — |
What is Ti Grade 38-STA?
Ti Grade 38-STA is Ti Grade 38 heat treated to STA — choose when peak strength is needed in section thicknesses that can be through-hardened; ductility and formability drop sharply. Ti Grade 38-STA has a yield strength of 1,010 MPa (146 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) — stronger than 93% of titanium grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 105 GPa (15.2 Msi). Ti Grade 38-STA has a density of 4.48 g/cm³ (0.162 lb/in³), lighter than 71% of titanium grades. It melts at 1,620°C (2,948 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; STA is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 1,010 MPa (146 ksi), better than 93% of titanium grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 93% 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
Ti Grade 38-STA properties
Typical room-temperature values for Ti Grade 38-STA; 11 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Ti Grade 38 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among titanium grades.
Physical3
Ti Grade 38-STA has a density of 4.48 g/cm³ (0.162 lb/in³), lighter than 71% of titanium grades. It melts at 1,620°C (2,948 °F).
Mechanical16
Ti Grade 38-STA has a yield strength of 1,010 MPa (146 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) — stronger than 93% of titanium grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 105 GPa (15.2 Msi).
Thermal6
Ti Grade 38-STA is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 7 W/m·K (4.04 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 76% of titanium grades. Thermal expansion is 9 µm/m·K (5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Ti Grade 38-STA conducts electricity at 1 % IACS, worse than 89% of titanium grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), worse than 93% of titanium grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Ti Grade 38-STA takes about 620 MJ of energy and emits 40 kg of CO₂ — less than 97% of titanium grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
Ti Grade 38-STA's machinability is poor (18/100, worse than 83% of titanium grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability poor (25/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Ti Grade 38-STA
Is Ti Grade 38 easy to machine?
Machine like Ti-6Al-4V: rigid setup, sharp uncoated-carbide or AlTiN tools, low surface speed (25–45 m/min), heavy feed and flood coolant to avoid work hardening and chip fires.
Can Ti Grade 38 be welded?
Readily GTAW/plasma/EB/laser welded with full argon shielding and trailing/back purge; clean joints, keep hydrogen and oxygen pickup low, stress relieve 540–650 °C after welding.
Can Ti Grade 38 be formed, bent or molded?
Its main selling point — cold brake-forming and roll-forming at room temperature to bend radii near 2–3 t in annealed sheet; hot form 700–800 °C for severe shapes, allow ~15–20 % springback compensation.
What surface finishes work on Ti Grade 38?
Pickle in HNO₃/HF to remove alpha case after hot work; Type II colour anodise (AMS 2488) or anodise/lubricate for anti-galling; plating is rarely used and requires activation to avoid hydrogen embrittlement.
Ti Grade 38 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Al | 3.5 – 4.5 | 4 |
| V | 2 – 3 | 2.5 |
| Febeta stabiliser replacing part of the V | 1.2 – 1.8 | 1.5 |
| Ointerstitial strengthener; lower O improves cold bendability | ≤ 0.25 | 0.2 |
| C | ≤ 0.08 | — |
| N | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| H0.0125 % max for some plate specs | ≤ 0.02 | — |
| Y | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Other, each | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Other, total | ≤ 0.4 | — |
| Ti | balance | — |
Ti Grade 38-STA — frequently asked
What is Ti Grade 38-STA used for?
Ti Grade 38-STA is typically used for aerospace sheet-metal parts, cold-formed brackets and clips, armor plate and vehicle protection panels, airframe stiffeners and channels, welded sheet assemblies for structural use and formed engine-bay shields. In short: cold-formable high-strength titanium; armor-capable sheet grade; more ductile than Grade 35.
What is the yield strength of Ti Grade 38-STA?
Ti Grade 38-STA has a typical yield strength of 1,010 MPa (146 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) — stronger than 93% of titanium grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Ti Grade 38-STA easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (18/100, worse than 83% of titanium grades). Machine like Ti-6Al-4V: rigid setup, sharp uncoated-carbide or AlTiN tools, low surface speed (25–45 m/min), heavy feed and flood coolant to avoid work hardening and chip fires.
Can Ti Grade 38-STA be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Readily GTAW/plasma/EB/laser welded with full argon shielding and trailing/back purge; clean joints, keep hydrogen and oxygen pickup low, stress relieve 540–650 °C after welding.
What surface finishes work on Ti Grade 38-STA?
Pickle in HNO₃/HF to remove alpha case after hot work; Type II colour anodise (AMS 2488) or anodise/lubricate for anti-galling; plating is rarely used and requires activation to avoid hydrogen embrittlement.
Can Ti Grade 38-STA be formed, bent or molded?
Its main selling point — cold brake-forming and roll-forming at room temperature to bend radii near 2–3 t in annealed sheet; hot form 700–800 °C for severe shapes, allow ~15–20 % springback compensation.
What is the maximum service temperature of Ti Grade 38-STA?
Ti Grade 38-STA is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Ti Grade 38 Annealed and Ti Grade 38-STA?
Annealed is the default condition — default stocked condition: best balance of strength, ductility and cold formability for sheet parts. STA: choose when peak strength is needed in section thicknesses that can be through-hardened; ductility and formability drop sharply. Yield strength is 810 MPa in Annealed versus 1,010 MPa in STA.
Sources
- ASTM B265 — Titanium and Titanium Alloy Strip, Sheet and Plate (Grade 38) — ASTM International (2020)
- ASTM B348 — Titanium and Titanium Alloy Bars and Billets — ASTM International (2021)
- ATI 425 Alloy (Ti-4Al-2.5V-1.5Fe) technical data sheet — ATI Specialty Materials (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B — Corrosion: Materials (titanium) — ASM International (2005)
- MIL-DTL-46077 — Armor Plate, Titanium Alloy, Wrought — US DoD (2011)
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.