How to Ensure Titanium Quality When Sourcing from Overseas

Quality control is the single biggest concern when sourcing high-value materials like titanium internationally. Here are our proven strategies for ensuring consistent quality when working with overseas titanium mills and machining facilities.

Pre-Production Material Verification

Request Comprehensive MTCs

Never accept titanium without a Mill Test Certificate (EN10204 3.1). The MTC must detail the chemical composition (ensuring limits on Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen, and Iron are met) and mechanical properties (Yield Strength, Tensile Strength, Elongation).

Verify Titanium Sponge Source

The quality of the final product begins with the titanium sponge. Top-tier manufacturers use Grade 0 or Grade 1 sponge. Verify the origin and grading of the sponge used in your materials.

During Production

Inspection of Forging & Rolling

For custom forgings, ensure the supplier uses proper heating equipment. Titanium absorbs oxygen and nitrogen rapidly at high temperatures (alpha case formation), which makes it brittle. Proper vacuum or inert gas furnaces are essential.

Machining Environment

If you are ordering custom CNC machined parts, inspect the supplier’s coolant systems. Chlorinated cutting fluids can cause stress-corrosion cracking in titanium and should be strictly avoided.

Pre-Shipment Inspection

Before your titanium leaves the factory, ensure these final checks are completed:

• 100% Ultrasonic Testing (UT) for aerospace/medical billets to detect internal voids.
• Dimensional Verification using CMMs (Coordinate Measuring Machines) for machined parts.
• Surface Inspection to ensure complete removal of alpha case on forged and heat-treated parts.

Building Quality Partnerships

The most effective quality control strategy is building a relationship with a certified, transparent titanium manufacturer.

At TIM - Titanium Materials, quality is built into every step of our titanium production process. Learn more about our quality assurance.