Grade 5 titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) is the most widely used titanium alloy in the world — an alpha-beta alloy with 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium that delivers roughly double the strength of commercially pure titanium while staying about 40% lighter than steel. It is the default workhorse alloy for aerospace structures, high-load fasteners, machined components, and demanding industrial parts. This guide explains what GR5 is, how it compares to other common grades, and what to verify before ordering from a China supplier.
What Is Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) Titanium?
Grade 5 — UNS R56400 — is a two-phase (alpha-beta) titanium alloy. The 6% aluminium strengthens and stabilises the alpha phase, while the 4% vanadium strengthens the beta phase. The result is a titanium alloy with a typical tensile strength of 895+ MPa (130 ksi) in the annealed condition, good fatigue resistance, and usable performance up to around 400 °C. It accounts for roughly half of all titanium tonnage consumed worldwide, which is why buyers and engineers simply call it “the workhorse.”
Key Properties of Ti-6Al-4V (Typical Reference Values)
The table below summarises typical annealed-condition values. Always confirm the exact requirements against your ordered specification and the mill test report.
| Property / Item | Typical Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| UNS / Grade | R56400 / Grade 5 | Ti-6Al-4V |
| Density | 4.43 g/cm³ | ~57% lighter than steel |
| Tensile strength (min) | 895 MPa (130 ksi) | Annealed, ASTM B348 |
| Yield strength (min) | 828 MPa (120 ksi) | Recuit |
| Elongation (min) | ≥ 10% | Adequate for structural use |
| Service temperature | Up to ~400 °C | Reference for design |
| Common standards | ASTM B348 (bar), B265 (plate), B338 (tube), F136 (implants) | Confirm per product form |
Grade 5 vs Grade 9 vs Grade 2: Which Titanium Grade Do You Need?
Buyers often arrive knowing they need “titanium” but not which grade. The practical answer depends on the balance you need between strength, formability, and cost:
| Factor | GR5 (Ti-6Al-4V) | GR9 (Ti-3Al-2.5V) | GR2 (commercially pure) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | Highest (895+ MPa) | Medium–high (620+ MPa) | Lower (~275+ MPa) |
| Cold formability | Difficult | Very good | Excellent |
| Machining | Machinable with rigid setups | Easier than GR5 | Easiest |
| Relative cost | Highest | Medium | Lowest |
| Best fit | High-load structures, fasteners, machined parts | Tube, springs, formed & welded parts | Corrosion service, chemical plant, cladding |
In short: pick GR5 when peak strength justifies the processing cost, GR9 when you need strength plus easy forming and welding (see our detailed GR9 (Ti-3Al-2.5V) properties guide), and GR2 when corrosion resistance matters more than strength.
Where Grade 5 Titanium Is Used
- Aerospace: structural fittings, engine components, fasteners, and landing-gear parts — anywhere the strength-to-weight ratio pays for itself. For a related read, see how GR9 performs in aerospace hydraulic tubing.
- Machined components: GR5 bar and billet are the standard input for CNC-turned and milled parts in motorsport, marine, and industrial equipment.
- Fasteners and high-load parts: bolts, studs, and shafts where steel is too heavy or too corrosive.
- Medical: the ELI variant (Ti-6Al-4V ELI, Grade 23, ASTM F136) is the standard implantable alloy.
What to Verify Before Ordering GR5 from a China Supplier
Because GR5’s properties depend heavily on chemistry control and heat treatment, incoming verification matters more than for pure grades. Before you commit: demand an EN 10204 3.1 mill test report with full chemistry and mechanicals; arrange PMI (positive material identification) on arrival; specify ultrasonic testing (UT) for critical bar and billet; and agree tolerance, surface condition (pickled, ground, or centerless-ground), and heat-treat condition (annealed vs solution-treated and aged) in writing. See our titanium bar & rod overview for the forms and standards we handle.
Why Source GR5 Through a China Titanium Trading Partner
As a trading company, our role is to de-risk the buy: we consolidate qualified mills, enforce incoming QC (PMI, UT/PT where applicable, EN 10204 3.1 documentation), keep MOQs flexible from prototype to production, and commit to transparent lead times. On GR5 — where lot-to-lot consistency decides whether your machining and heat-treatment plans hold — that discipline is worth more than a marginal price difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grade 5 titanium stronger than steel?
Per unit weight, yes. GR5 has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than most steels: it delivers 895+ MPa tensile strength at less than 60% of steel’s density, which is why it dominates lightweight structural applications.
Can Grade 5 titanium be welded?
Yes. GR5 welds well by TIG with proper inert-gas shielding, though it needs more process care than GR9 or pure grades to avoid oxygen pickup and embrittlement in the weld zone.
What is the difference between Grade 5 and Grade 23 titanium?
Grade 23 is Ti-6Al-4V ELI (Extra Low Interstitial): the same base chemistry with tighter limits on oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen, giving better fracture toughness and fatigue behaviour. It is the standard choice for medical implants.
Is Grade 5 titanium expensive?
It carries a premium over commercially pure grades because of alloying content and processing difficulty, but sourcing directly from qualified Chinese mills through a trading partner with verified QC typically keeps total cost competitive for overseas buyers.
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Need GR5 (Ti-6Al-4V) bar, tube, or machined parts with full traceability? Request a quote from FDtitanium with your sizes, tolerances, and specification — we’ll return a graded offer with MTC and an inspection plan.
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