Titanium Grades Explained: Gr1, Gr2 and Alloys
Commercially pure titanium comes in several grades. Here is what the numbers mean, and why Gr1 and Gr2 are the right choices for memorial products.
Titanium is not a single material but a family, identified by grade numbers under standards such as ASTM B265. Understanding the differences makes it much easier to judge what you are being offered.
Commercially pure titanium: Gr1 to Gr4
Grades 1 to 4 are unalloyed titanium. They differ mainly in oxygen and iron content, which control strength and ductility:
- Gr1 — the softest and most formable, with the best corrosion resistance and the highest purity. Used for chemical equipment, medical devices and deep-drawn parts.
- Gr2 — the workhorse grade. Slightly stronger than Gr1, still highly corrosion resistant and very weldable. It accounts for the majority of industrial titanium used worldwide.
- Gr3 — stronger, less formable.
- Gr4 — the strongest of the pure grades, harder to machine.
Higher grade numbers do not mean "better". They mean more strength at the cost of ductility and corrosion resistance. For a vessel that must simply remain unchanged, Gr1 or Gr2 is the correct choice.
Alloys: Gr5 and beyond
Alloy grades add elements such as aluminium and vanadium. Gr5 (Ti-6Al-4V) is the aerospace and medical-implant alloy: roughly twice the strength of Gr2, but harder to machine and less formable. It makes sense for structural parts under load, not for a memorial vessel where chemical inertness and finish quality matter more than tensile strength.
What to ask a supplier
- Which standard is the material certified to — for example ASTM B265 or GB/T 3621?
- Can a material certificate (mill test report) be provided with the order?
- Is the grade consistent between the sample and the production batch?
A manufacturer working in pure titanium will answer these immediately, because the material certificate is part of everyday production.
Our choice
We build memorial products from Gr1 and Gr2 commercially pure titanium. Both are inert, hypoallergenic and finish beautifully by hand. Where a customer requires higher strength — for example for a very large companion urn — we discuss Gr5 openly and explain the trade-offs rather than simply quoting a higher grade as an upgrade.
The point is not the highest number on a datasheet. It is the right material for the purpose.
