1. Introduction
Just 48 hours ago, industry insiders reported a 12% surge in global demand for titanium powder for 3D printing—driven by new aerospace contracts and medical implant innovations. As additive manufacturing scales, understanding the nuances of titanium powder types, costs, and alternatives like molybdenum or tungsten powders has never been more critical.
Whether you’re an engineer sourcing ti64 powder or a startup looking to buy titanium powder for prototyping, this guide breaks down everything you need to know—from gas atomized titanium powder to niche variants like titanium diboride powder.
2. What Is Titanium Powder?
Titanium powder—often called ti powder—is a fine particulate form of titanium metal or its compounds. Unlike bulk titanium, powder enables advanced manufacturing like additive manufacturing (3D printing), metal injection molding, and thermal spray coatings.
It’s crucial to distinguish between titanium metal powder (used in structural parts) and tio2 powder (titanium dioxide), a white pigment common in cosmetics and sunscreens. They serve entirely different purposes.
3. Major Types of Titanium Powder & Their Uses
Not all titanium powder is created equal. Here’s a breakdown of the most important types:
- Pure titanium powder: Ideal for corrosion-resistant components and biomedical implants. Often labeled as Grade 1 or 2.
- Ti6Al4v powder (also called ti64 powder): The most widely used titanium alloy powder, containing 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium. Dominates aerospace and medical 3D printing.
- Spherical titanium powder: Produced via plasma or gas atomization for smooth flow in 3D printers. Essential for high-density titanium 3d printing powder applications.
- HDH titanium powder: Made through the hydride-dehydride process—cheaper but irregular in shape. Used in powder metallurgy, not ideal for 3D printing.
- Titanium nitride powder & titanium carbide powder: Hard, ceramic-like compounds used in cutting tools and wear-resistant coatings—not for structural printing.
- Titanium diboride powder (tib2 powder): Extremely hard and conductive; used in armor and refractory materials.
- Titanium nanopowder & tio2 nano powder: Ultrafine particles for catalysts, sensors, and advanced coatings.
4. Titanium Powder for 3D Printing: What You Need to Know
Additive manufacturing relies heavily on spherical, gas atomized titanium powder. Ti6Al4V powder is the gold standard here due to its strength-to-weight ratio and biocompatibility.
Key considerations when sourcing titanium powder for 3d printing include particle size distribution (typically 15–45 microns), oxygen content (<0.15%), and flowability. Irregular powders like HDH can cause print failures.
The titanium powder for 3d printing price varies widely—typically $300–$800 per kg, depending on purity, shape, and supplier. Ti6al4v powder price often sits at the higher end due to alloying costs.
5. How Much Does Titanium Powder Cost?
Titanium powder price per kg ranges dramatically:
- Pure titanium powder: $200–$500/kg
- Ti6Al4V powder: $400–$800/kg
- Spherical gas atomized grades: Premium pricing, often +20% over irregular powders
- Specialty powders (e.g., titanium nitride, carbide): $100–$300/kg but used in tiny quantities
Factors affecting titanium metal powder price include raw material costs (titanium sponge), production method, and global supply chain pressures. Many buyers now compare titanium powder cost against alternatives like molybdenum powder or tungsten powder for specific applications.
6. Titanium vs. Molybdenum vs. Tungsten Powders
While titanium powder excels in lightweight, high-strength applications, engineers sometimes consider molybdenum or tungsten powders for extreme environments.
Molybdenum powder (moly powder) offers high melting points and thermal conductivity—ideal for furnace parts. Molybdenum disulfide powder (mos2 powder) is a dry lubricant, not structural.
Tungsten powder, especially spherical tungsten powder, is ultra-dense (19.3 g/cm³) and used in radiation shielding and kinetic penetrators. Tungsten carbide powder is even harder—common in cutting tools.
Unlike titanium, neither molybdenum nor tungsten powders are commonly used in biocompatible 3D printing. But for high-temp or wear applications, they’re serious contenders.
7. Where to Buy & Key Suppliers
When you buy titanium powder, work with certified titanium powder suppliers who provide material certifications (e.g., ASTM F1580 for Ti6Al4V). Reputable sources include international titanium powder producers in the U.S., Germany, and Japan.
Beware of misleading listings—some sellers market ‘titanium dust’ or ‘burnt titanium powder coat’ as usable metal powder, which is unsafe and unsuitable for manufacturing.
Always verify if the product is true titanium metal powder—not tio2 powder or titanium-coated diamond powder (used in polishing).
8. Conclusion
From pure titanium powder to advanced ti64 powder for aerospace 3D printing, the titanium powder landscape is diverse and rapidly evolving. Prices remain volatile, but demand—especially for spherical, gas atomized grades—is soaring.
Whether you’re evaluating titanium powder uses in medical devices or comparing titanium powder price per kg against molybdenum or tungsten alternatives, understanding these subtypes ensures smarter sourcing and better performance.
Our Website founded on October 17, 2012, is a high-tech enterprise committed to the research and development, production, processing, sales and technical services of ceramic relative materials such as 7. Our products includes but not limited to Boron Carbide Ceramic Products, Boron Nitride Ceramic Products, Silicon Carbide Ceramic Products, Silicon Nitride Ceramic Products, Zirconium Dioxide Ceramic Products, etc. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.
