Product Description

Grade 2 titanium is often selected for heat exchanger flanges because it holds up where stainless steel starts to pit.

Chloride, seawater, slightly acidic process fluids - these are normal working conditions, not edge cases.

The flange is made from forged Gr2 titanium, then finish-machined.

Bolt holes, facing, and flatness are controlled at the machining stage, not corrected later during installation.

In continuous heat exchange service, temperature changes are frequent.

Titanium stays dimensionally stable in these cycles and does not rely on coatings or surface treatments to protect the base metal.

Most orders are supplied to match existing heat exchanger layouts.

Dimensions, drilling, and facing follow the confirmed drawing rather than a fixed catalog size.

Application Scenarios

In heat exchange systems, flange performance is defined more by the working medium and connection position than by nominal size.
The following applications reflect how Gr2 titanium flanges are typically used in practice.

Seawater / Cooling Water Heat Exchangers

Used at exchanger inlet and outlet connections.
Continuous contact with oxygenated water.
Gasket area stays wet most of the time.
Stainless flanges tend to pit first around the bolt circle.
Grade 2 titanium does not rely on coatings in this zone.

Chemical Process Heat Exchangers

Applied where process fluid composition is not constant.
Acid concentration and temperature may change during operation.
Material choice is driven by corrosion margin, not peak temperature.
Gr2 titanium remains predictable over long operating cycles.

Electroplating Heat Control Loops

Flange is usually outside the bath, not immersed.
Condensate and acidic mist still reach the sealing face.
Coated carbon steel fails once the coating is damaged.
Titanium does not have this failure mode.

Discuss Your Application

Design & Connection Considerations

In heat exchanger systems, the flange is rarely a standalone component.
Its performance is shaped by how it is machined, sealed, and assembled into the piping system.

Facing Type and Sealing Behavior

Gr2 titanium flanges are commonly supplied with RF or FF faces, depending on gasket selection and operating pressure.
Surface flatness and machining marks matter more than nominal thickness, especially under low-bolt-load conditions.

Bolt Load and Material Interaction

Titanium does not behave like carbon steel under tightening.
Excessive torque does not improve sealing and may instead deform the gasket or flange face.
Bolt material and lubrication must be considered as part of the joint design.

Dimensional Matching in Existing Systems

In retrofit projects, flange OD, bolt circle, and hub length often need to match site piping exactly.
Small deviations can lead to alignment stress once the exchanger heats up.

No Coating Dependency

Unlike coated steel flanges, Gr2 titanium relies on its base material stability.
There is no coating layer that can crack, blister, or peel during long-term operation.

Manufacturing & Machining Control

The flange starts from a forged Grade 2 titanium blank.

Forging is used to stabilize grain flow and avoid anisotropy that can affect sealing surfaces later.

Rough machining is carried out to establish OD, ID, and hub geometry.

Final machining is done only after the blank has fully relaxed, to avoid face distortion after installation.

Sealing faces are finished in a single setup where possible.

Flatness and surface consistency are controlled by machining sequence, not by secondary polishing.

Bolt holes are drilled and finished with positional control relative to the flange centerline.

This matters more in titanium than in steel, especially when aligning to existing heat exchanger piping.

No surface coating or plating is applied.

All corrosion resistance comes from the base material itself, not from an added layer.

Dimensional checks are performed at the machining stage, not adjusted during packing.

Parts that do not meet face or alignment requirements are rejected before shipment.

Inspection & Quality Verification

Chemical Composition

The titanium used for the flange is verified as commercially pure Grade 2 at the raw material stage.
Elemental composition is checked to confirm oxygen and impurity levels remain within the Grade 2 range, as excessive oxygen directly affects ductility and sealing reliability.
This verification is performed before machining to avoid material mix-up between different CP titanium grades.

Mechanical Properties

Mechanical properties are confirmed based on the forged material batch used for flange production.
Tensile strength and elongation are reviewed to ensure the material condition matches the intended Grade 2 application, particularly for bolt loading and thermal cycling environments.
This approach reflects standard practice for forged titanium components, where mechanical behavior is governed by material batch rather than individual finished parts.

Appearance & Dimensional Inspection

Each finished flange is inspected for overall geometry after final machining.
Outer diameter, inner diameter, thickness, and bolt hole layout are checked against the confirmed drawing to ensure proper assembly with mating pipes and heat exchanger nozzles.
Sealing faces are examined for machining damage, distortion, or surface defects that could compromise gasket contact or long-term sealing performance.

Chemical Composition

Mechanical Properties

Dimensional Inspection

Packaging & Delivery

Titanium flanges are precision-machined sealing components. Surface damage, edge deformation, or contamination during transport can directly affect gasket contact and assembly alignment. For this reason, packaging is not treated as a simple logistics step, but as part of quality control.

1. Surface Protection

Each flange is individually wrapped in anti-rust paper (VCI optional)

Sealing face covered with protective film or foam pad

Contact surfaces separated to prevent metal-to-metal abrasion

No direct stacking without isolation

For machined sealing faces (RF / FF), we avoid hard contact during packing. Even minor edge impact may create sealing risk under bolt preload.

2. Internal Fixation

Inside the crate:

Foam blocks or partition boards used to prevent movement

Heavy flanges fixed with wooden bracing

Bolt holes not used as lifting points unless specified

Transport vibration is considered. The goal is zero shifting inside the box.

3. Export Crating

Standard fumigation-free plywood cases

Steel-reinforced corners for heavy loads

Moisture barrier lining for sea freight

Marking per customer requirement (heat number / size / PO number)

For bulk sea shipment, moisture protection is critical. Titanium itself resists corrosion, but packaging damage can cause cosmetic or surface issues.

4. Delivery Lead Time

Typical production lead time:

Small batch: 7–15 working days

Bulk order: confirmed after drawing and machining schedule review

We confirm:

Drawing revision before machining

Quantity and weight for freight estimation

Incoterms (FOB / CIF / EXW etc.) before shipment booking

FAQ

Q: Is Grade 2 titanium really necessary for heat exchanger flanges?

A: If the system handles seawater, cooling water, or acidic condensate, the flange is usually one of the first components to corrode. Carbon steel depends on coating. Stainless steel often pits around bolt holes. Grade 2 titanium does not rely on coating protection and performs consistently in wet gasket areas and oxygenated water.

Q: Will the flange deform under bolt tightening?

A: Properly forged Grade 2 material maintains sufficient tensile strength and elongation for normal flange loading. Bolt torque is carried by the material batch properties, not by surface hardness. As long as correct tightening sequence is followed, distortion is not a typical issue.

Q: Can titanium flange be used with stainless steel pipes?

A: Yes, but isolation should be considered in seawater or conductive environments. In mixed-metal systems, galvanic corrosion risk depends on electrolyte presence. Gasket selection and insulation sleeves can solve this.

Q: What is the typical lead time for custom size flanges?

A: For standard forged sizes, production usually falls within 12–15 working days. Non-standard dimensions or special drilling patterns may require additional machining time. Final lead time depends on material availability and quantity.