Titanium Multilayer Surface Film for Corrosion and Yield Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for producing titanium materials fail to achieve homogeneous, corrosion-resistant, and lubricious surfaces due to the formation of titanium carbide and nitride compounds, leading to yield loss and surface degradation, and existing surface treatment methods do not adequately control the formation of these compounds.

Innovation Solution

A titanium material with a multilayer surface film structure, comprising a surface layer of titanium oxide with a hardness of 5 GPa to 20 GPa and an inner layer containing titanium carbide or nitride, achieved through hot rolling, cold rolling, annealing in a combustion gas atmosphere, acid washing, and electrolytic pickling in acidic or neutral aqueous solutions with controlled electrical potential and current.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional annealing and pickling is used to remove oxidized scale, then corrosion resistance is improved, but yield loss increases due to dissolution of bare metal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidyield loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes only the harmful oxidized scale layer from the titanium material surface through controlled acid washing, while preserving the underlying bare metal. This selective removal approach eliminates the need to dissolve healthy metal to achieve corrosion resistance, thereby reducing yield loss while maintaining protective oxide film formation capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a non-uniform surface condition through controlled oxidation, where a thin protective oxide film is formed only in specific locations or to a controlled thickness, rather than allowing thick uniform scale formation. This local quality control allows corrosion resistance without excessive material loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of substance

If bright annealing is used to preserve rolled gloss and avoid oxidized scale, then yield loss is reduced, but titanium carbide and nitride formation degrades surface characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyield lossVSAvoidsurface characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary removal of carbon and nitrogen contaminants from the titanium surface before the annealing process. By eliminating these harmful elements in advance, the subsequent annealing can proceed without forming titanium carbide or nitride compounds, thus preserving surface characteristics while maintaining the benefits of bright annealing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention rapidly processes through the annealing stage by controlling the atmosphere and parameters to minimize the time window during which carbon and nitrogen could react with titanium. This rushed-through approach prevents carbide and nitride formation while achieving the desired oxide film and surface finish

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Reliability

If thick oxidized scale is formed during heating, then corrosion resistance is improved, but acid washing removes excessive metal and increases yield loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidyield loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the oxidation parameters by controlling the heating atmosphere composition, temperature, and exposure time to form only a thin protective oxide film rather than thick scale. This parameter control ensures sufficient corrosion resistance while minimizing the amount of oxide that would subsequently be removed during acid washing, reducing yield loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method produces titanium materials with excellent surface lubricity and corrosion resistance, reducing yield loss and enhancing the adhesion of coatings or plating films, while maintaining the aesthetic appearance and corrosion resistance of titanium.

Implementation Method 1

Since titanium has high activity and high affinity to oxygen compared to other commonly-used metals, a titanium material usually has a layer mostly formed of titanium oxide with a thickness of several nm to several tens of nm on the surface. The surface film of oxide is mainly formed during annealing in production

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

a method for producing a titanium material including a surface film having a surface layer formed of titanium oxide, comprising the successive steps of: hot rolling pure titanium or titanium alloy to form a plate, repeatedly subjecting the plate to cold rolling, annealing in a combustion gas atmosphere and acid washing to make a secondary half-finished product, cold rolling and annealing the secondary half-finished product to form a titanium material including a surface layer containing at least one of titanium carbide and titanium nitride; and then electrolytically pickling the titanium material by anode electrolysis or alternating electrolysis in acidic aqueous solution or neutral aqueous solution containing an oxidizing reagent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Data Source

PatentEP2366809B1Titanium material and method for producing titanium material
Publication Date: 2018.12.05 NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORP
  • EP2366809B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2366809B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(c)
  • EP2366809B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed are a titanium material having excellent surface characteristics and a method for readily producing a titanium material having excellent surface characteristics. More specifically, provided is a titanium material including a surface film having a multilayer structure provided with at least two layers, namely a surface layer and an inner layer in contact with the inner side of the surface layer, wherein the surface layer is formed of titanium oxide with a hardness of 5 GPa to 20 GPa, and the inner layer contains at least one of titanium carbide and titanium nitride.