Ti-13V-11Cr-3Al (TC11)
Material Introduction
Ti-13V-11Cr-3Al (TC11) is a high-strength, high-performance titanium alloy engineered for demanding aerospace, energy, and defense applications. As a metastable beta titanium alloy, TC11 offers outstanding hardenability, excellent formability, and a superior strength-to-weight ratio. When processed through advanced additive manufacturing systems such as Neway AeroTech’s dedicated superalloy 3D printing and industrial titanium 3D printing, TC11 enables the production of lightweight, structurally efficient parts with complex internal channels and optimized aerodynamic geometries. Its exceptional fatigue resistance, thermal stability, and corrosion performance make it suitable for aerospace engine components, airframe structures, energy conversion assemblies, and high-load brackets that require long-term durability under varying thermal and mechanical stresses.
International Names or Representative Grades
Country/Region | Common Name | Representative Grades |
|---|---|---|
USA | Ti-13V-11Cr-3Al | TC11 |
Europe | Beta Titanium Alloy | BTi-13-11-3 |
Japan | High-Strength Titanium Alloy | Ti-13V-11Cr-3Al |
China | TC11 Titanium Alloy | TC11 |
Aerospace Industry | Beta Titanium Structural Alloy | Ti-13-11-3 |
Alternative Material Options
Depending on performance and environmental requirements, several titanium and high-temperature materials serve as alternatives. For balanced strength and corrosion resistance, Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) remains a widely used option for aerospace and medical components. When higher fracture toughness or improved biocompatibility is required, Ti-6Al-4V ELI is a suitable choice. For applications requiring higher temperature resistance, beta alloys such as Beta C and Ti-5553 offer improved mechanical stability at elevated temperatures. For extreme heat and oxidation conditions, nickel-based alloys such as Inconel 718 or high-strength cobalt alloys like Stellite 21 provide superior thermal endurance. These alternatives ensure flexibility in selecting materials that meet performance, cost, and operating environment constraints.
Design Purpose
TC11 was originally designed to provide a titanium alloy capable of maintaining exceptional strength and fatigue stability at intermediate temperatures while improving workability compared to alpha-beta grades. The alloy’s careful balance of vanadium, chromium, and aluminum stabilizes the beta phase, enabling enhanced cold formability, heat treatability, and weldability. In additive manufacturing, this design intention evolves toward creating lightweight and topology-optimized components that withstand mechanical loads, thermal cycling, and corrosive operating environments, while enabling designers to reduce mass without compromising structural performance.
Chemical Composition (Typical Range)
Element | Composition (%) |
|---|---|
Titanium (Ti) | Balance |
Vanadium (V) | 13 |
Chromium (Cr) | 11 |
Aluminum (Al) | 3 |
Iron (Fe) | ≤ 0.3 |
Oxygen (O) | ≤ 0.15 |
Carbon (C) | ≤ 0.05 |
Nitrogen (N) | ≤ 0.05 |
Physical Properties
Property | Value |
|---|---|
Density | ~4.65 g/cm³ |
Melting Point | ~1660°C |
Thermal Conductivity | 7–10 W/m·K |
Electrical Resistivity | ~1.7 μΩ·m |
Specific Heat Capacity | ~540 J/kg·K |
Mechanical Properties
Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
Tensile Strength | 1100–1250 MPa |
Yield Strength | 980–1100 MPa |
Elongation | 8–12% |
Hardness | 38–42 HRC |
Fatigue Strength | High fatigue endurance |
Key Material Characteristics
Very high strength and excellent strength-to-density ratio for aerospace structural components
Superior fatigue resistance under cyclic loading and dynamic stress
Outstanding formability for a metastable beta titanium alloy
Excellent response to heat treatment for tuning mechanical performance
High resistance to oxidation and corrosion in aerospace and industrial conditions
Stable microstructure at mid-temperature ranges, ideal for energy and aviation components
Excellent compatibility with additive manufacturing, enabling thin-wall and complex geometries
Good weldability and manufacturability after selective laser melting
High fracture toughness suitable for critical load-bearing parts
Strong performance in lightweight, topology-optimized designs
Manufacturability in Different Processes
Additive manufacturing: Powder bed fusion enables precise fabrication of lightweight, high-strength structures; optimized through Neway’s specialized titanium 3D printing.
CNC machining: Beta titanium alloys require controlled cutting parameters, supported by advanced superalloy CNC machining capabilities.
EDM: Compatible with precision shaping through superalloy EDM for complex channels and hard-to-reach geometries.
Deep hole drilling: Stable performance under thermal load when processed using expert deep hole drilling solutions.
Heat treatment: Responds well to multi-stage aging and solution treatment through engineered superalloy heat treatment processes.
Vacuum investment casting: Although not commonly used, certain beta titanium shapes can be aligned with titanium alloy casting principles.
Welding: Beta-stabilized composition supports high-quality joining under controlled parameters using superalloy welding.
Suitable Post-Processing Methods
Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) via HIP to eliminate porosity and improve fatigue performance
Multi-stage heat treatment to achieve targeted strength, ductility, and toughness
Surface machining for dimensional accuracy in aerospace structures
Polishing and finishing to reduce surface roughness in load-bearing components
Non-destructive evaluation using advanced material testing
Chemical and mechanical cleaning for powder removal after additive manufacturing
Shot peening or surface strengthening to enhance fatigue performance
Common Industries and Applications
Aerospace fasteners, brackets, and structural connectors
Aircraft load-bearing ribs, frames, and high-stress linkages
Energy sector turbine components and pressure-resistant parts
Defense and military lightweight structural assemblies
Automotive racing components requiring high strength and low mass
Industrial machinery requiring fatigue-resistant titanium solutions
When to Choose This Material
When extremely high strength and fatigue-resistant performance are necessary
When a lightweight titanium alloy is required for aerospace or energy structures
When components experience mid-temperature service conditions with cyclic loading
When topology-optimized or thin-wall geometries must be produced through additive manufacturing
When improved formability and heat-treatability are needed compared to alpha-beta titanium alloys
When weight reduction is critical without compromising load capability
When corrosive or oxidizing environments demand long-term structural stability
When weldability and stable mechanical properties are essential for high-precision assemblies
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