Titanium Grade 3 · supply condition
Titanium Grade 3-CW
Properties of the CW condition, compared with the other Grade 3 tempers.
Highest strength and straightness for small-diameter drawn bar, wire and fasteners; low ductility and high residual stress.
What is Grade 3-CW?
Grade 3-CW is Grade 3 supplied in the CW condition — highest strength and straightness for small-diameter drawn bar, wire and fasteners; low ductility and high residual stress. Grade 3-CW has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 50% of titanium grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 103 GPa (14.9 Msi). Grade 3-CW 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). O is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CW is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 40/100, better than 93% of titanium grades
- High electrical conductivity — 3.1 % IACS, better than 75% of titanium grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 78% of titanium grades
Grade 3-CW properties
Typical room-temperature values for Grade 3-CW — 8 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Grade 3 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the titanium grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
Grade 3-CW 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 3-CW has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 50% of titanium grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 103 GPa (14.9 Msi).
Thermal6
Grade 3-CW is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °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 3-CW conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, better than 75% of titanium grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 53% of titanium grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Grade 3-CW takes about 690 MJ of energy and emits 46 kg of CO₂ — more than 57% of titanium grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
Grade 3-CW's machinability is fair (40/100, better than 93% of titanium grades); weldability excellent (85/100); formability poor (25/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other Grade 3 tempers and conditions
Grade 3 is also supplied in 3 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the Grade 3 overview.
- ODefaultStandard stocked condition for plate, sheet, bar and welded tube; best ductility/weldability at the ASTM Grade 3 strength minima.420 MPa yield · 200 HB
- CWHighest strength and straightness for small-diameter drawn bar, wire and fasteners; low ductility and high residual stress.620 MPa yield · 25 HRC
- SRPick for bar, wire and seamless tube where residual stress must be removed but part of the cold-work strength is retained.540 MPa yield · 235 HB
Working with Grade 3-CW
Is Grade 3 easy to machine?
Use rigid setups, sharp uncoated-carbide or coated tools, low surface speed (~30–50 m/min) with heavy positive feed and flood coolant; never dwell, and control chips/dust for fire risk.
Can Grade 3 be welded?
Excellent GTAW/PAW/EBW weldability with matching Gr3 or ERTi-3 filler, provided the weld and heat-affected zone are shielded to below ~400 °C with clean argon/helium and surfaces are degreased.
Can Grade 3 be formed, bent or molded?
Form with generous bend radii (≈3–4 t) and allow for high springback; warm forming at 200–400 °C markedly improves formability versus room temperature.
What surface finishes work on Grade 3?
Pickle in HNO3/HF after hot work to remove alpha case and scale; anodizing or thermal oxidation gives colour and anti-galling films, and shot peening or CVD/PVD coatings are used where wear matters.
Grade 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ooxygen level sets the Grade 3 strength class | ≤ 0.35 | 0.3 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.3 | 0.15 |
| C | ≤ 0.08 | 0.02 |
| N | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| H0.0125 % max for bar/billet per ASTM B348 | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Other, eachresidual elements | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Others, total | ≤ 0.4 | — |
| Ti | balance | — |
Grade 3-CW — frequently asked
What is Grade 3-CW used for?
Grade 3-CW is typically used for aerospace bracketry, cryogenic vessels, pressure vessel shells and heads, chemical process piping and flanges, heat exchanger plates and marine and offshore fittings. In short: higher-strength CP titanium.
What is the yield strength of Grade 3-CW?
Grade 3-CW has a typical yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 50% of titanium grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Grade 3-CW easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, better than 93% of titanium grades). Use rigid setups, sharp uncoated-carbide or coated tools, low surface speed (~30–50 m/min) with heavy positive feed and flood coolant; never dwell, and control chips/dust for fire risk.
Can Grade 3-CW be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (85/100). Excellent GTAW/PAW/EBW weldability with matching Gr3 or ERTi-3 filler, provided the weld and heat-affected zone are shielded to below ~400 °C with clean argon/helium and surfaces are degreased.
What surface finishes work on Grade 3-CW?
Pickle in HNO3/HF after hot work to remove alpha case and scale; anodizing or thermal oxidation gives colour and anti-galling films, and shot peening or CVD/PVD coatings are used where wear matters.
Can Grade 3-CW be formed, bent or molded?
Form with generous bend radii (≈3–4 t) and allow for high springback; warm forming at 200–400 °C markedly improves formability versus room temperature.
What is the maximum service temperature of Grade 3-CW?
Grade 3-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 3-O and Grade 3-CW?
O is the default condition — standard stocked condition for plate, sheet, bar and welded tube; best ductility/weldability at the ASTM Grade 3 strength minima. CW: highest strength and straightness for small-diameter drawn bar, wire and fasteners; low ductility and high residual stress. Yield strength is 420 MPa in O versus 620 MPa in CW.
Can FabDigit make parts in Grade 3-CW?
Yes — Grade 3-CW is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM B265 — Titanium and Titanium Alloy Strip, Sheet and Plate — ASTM (2020)
- ASTM B348 — Titanium and Titanium Alloy Bars and Billets — ASTM (2021)
- AMS 4900 — Titanium Sheet, Strip and Plate, Commercially Pure — SAE International (2018)
- GB/T 3621 — (TA3) — SAC (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
- Commercially pure titanium Grade 1–4 property sheets — Titanium mill/distributor datasheets (2023)
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.