What is more valuable titanium or copper?

Introduction

This page is includes information on the costs of different metals used in mechanical engineering.  When producing mechanical components the material costs is generally of limited significance .  Other costs should be included when comparing materials including design, procurement, production control, forming, machining, finishing, distribution, etc etc.  A component lifetime costs include maintenance, corrosion protection and recovery (scrap).

The raw material cost for a particular component may be 20 times the cost if made from one material compared to another on a weight to weight basis.  However the lifetime costs may be very similar if all of the other factors are also taken into consideration.

The material cost of a mass produced investment casting item may be 80% of the final cost.  The material cost of a single complicated machined item may be less than 10% of the final cost..

It is not possible to provide cost comparisons between different metals to any level of accuracy.  Each metal is varying in price on a day to day basis and different alloys of the same metal can have significantly different costs.   A grade 7 titanium alloy costs twice as much as pure titanium (grade 1,2 or 3).

Comparing costs should only be based on final installed costs. eg. for a domestic, industrial piping system a screwed steel system would cost about 40% more than a copper piping system...

Example :
The price of a titanium /titanium alloy products results from a number of factors:

• Alloying grade .some grades e.g with Pd alloying component, can significantly increase the price of the alloy.
• The purity of the grade... the more pure the higher the cost
• The test and inspection requirements;
• The procured quantities. The more ordered the lower the specific cost
• The geometry ..rolling or forging affects prices per volume or weight
• Demand ..e.g High defence demand for aerospace industry can result in higher metal prices
• Local economy.. Metal availability

In year 2000 the price of titanium was about �13 000 to �43 000/tonne..
In 2002 the price of raw titanium was about to �8960/tonne.
In 2005 to-date the price of titanium has varied between �6000 and �9000 /tonne
Ref 2010 ..I have enclosed a chart from the metalprices webpage to illustrate to range of titanium ingot pricing over a 12 month period

11$/lb is equal to about �15,700/tonne"

Table showing relative metal costs

The table below can only really be used to give broad relative initial material costs.  The figures are based on a reference source originating about 2002

Material Density Cost/tonne Relative Cost /m3 Relative kg/m3 �/tonne �/tonne �/m3 �/m3 Carbon Steel 7820 550 1 4301 1,0 Alloy Steels 7820 830 1,51 6490,6 1,5 Cast Iron 7225 830 1,51 5996,75 1,4 Stainless Steel 7780 4450 8,1 34 621 8,0 Aluminium/alloys 2700 2220 4,0 5994 1,4 Copper /Alloys 8900 5550 10,1 49 395 11,5 Zinc alloys 7100 2220 4,0 15 762 3,7 Magnesium /alloys 1800 4000 7,3 7200 1,8 Titanium /alloys 4500 17 000 30,9 76 500 17,4 Nickel alloys 8900 18 000 32,7 160 200 36,8

Current Metal Prices.. November 2010

I have tried to obtain some current (Nov 2010) metal prices from various internet sources and I list them below..These sometimes differ considerably from the table above

Material Cost/tonne Relative Cost
(weight) Relative Cost
(volume) �/tonne Steel (Billet) LME-Nov-2010 321 1 1 Steel (Hot Rolled Plate)-MEPS-July-2010 505 1,6 1,6 304 Steel (Hot Rolled Plate)-MEPS-July-2010 2 536 7,9 7,9 316 Steel (Hot Rolled Plate)-MEPS-July-2010 3 535 11 11 Tin- LME-Nov-2010 15 458 48 45 Aluminium Alloy - LME-Nov-2010 1 407 4,.4 1,5 Aluminium - LME-Nov-2010 1 425 4,4 1,5 Copper - LME -Nov-2010 5 279 16,4 18,7 Zinc - LME -Nov-2010 1 412 4,4 4,0 Nickel - LME -Nov-2010 14 398 44 51 Lead - LME-Nov-2010 1 414 4,4 6,4 Titanium (ingot 6AL-4V) steelonthenet (11$/lb) 15 700 49 28

Prices in dollars for 25mm round bar x 300mm long (0,00015m3 ) ...November 2010 (Onlinemetals (USA)

Metal Price $
                    �1000/tonne
                    �1000/m3
                    Relative cost
(weight)                Relative cost
(volume)                  Steel HR (A56) 6 3,2 24,7 1 1 Steel CD (12L40) 7,4 3,9 30,5 1.23 1.23 Alloy Steel (4130) 9,99 5,3 41,2 1.66 1.66 St.Stl (304L) 15,34 8,1 63,2 2.6 2.56 St.Stl (316L) 20,61 10,9 84,9 3.4 3.44 Aluminium (2011-T3) 8,58 13,1 35,4 4.2 1.43 Copper (C110) 37,91 17,5 156,2 5.6 6.32 Brass (C360) 25,3 11,7 104,3 3.7 4.22 Bronze 42,09 19,5 173,5 6.2 7.0 Titanium (6AL-4VG5) 107 98 441 31 17.8

Comparison of raw bulk material costs above with actual metal stock prices

..Looking at the cost per tonne of HR steel in the form of a 1" dia bar 1 foot long at �3200 against the LME price for the raw material in bulk for at �321/tonne illustrates the massive diiference in the price of raw materials to the actual price of materials as supplied for initial machining processes in small quantities.

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10:41 am

When it comes to metal, many options are available for various applications. Two of the most popular metals in engineering and construction are titanium and copper. Both offer unique advantages and disadvantages, making them suitable for different projects. Let’s compare titanium and copper so you can decide which is right for your project.

Strength & Durability

Titanium is one of the strongest metals on the planet. It has a high strength-to-weight ratio, meaning it can withstand significant amounts of stress without becoming overly heavy or cumbersome. This makes it an ideal choice for projects that require a lightweight but strong material, such as aerospace components or medical implants. Copper, on the other hand, is not as strong as titanium; however, it can still be used in certain applications due to its malleability and corrosion resistance.

Cost & Availability

Titanium is more expensive than copper due to its rarity and difficulty in manufacturing processes. That said, it may be worth the extra cost depending on what you need it for since its superior strength and durability can save you money in the long run. Copper is much cheaper than titanium but still offers good performance in many applications. It is also readily available from most suppliers, making it an attractive option for those on a budget who don’t need all the benefits that titanium provides.

Corrosion Resistance

When exposed to certain elements or compounds, both titanium and copper can corrode over time; however, they do provide different levels of protection against corrosion. Titanium has excellent corrosion resistance compared to other metals thanks to its thin oxide layer that forms when exposed to air or water vapor; this layer prevents further oxidation from occurring beneath it. Copper has good corrosion resistance but not quite as good as titanium since its oxide layer is thicker and does not form as quickly or efficiently when exposed to air or water vapor.

• Titanium is much stronger than copper.
• Titanium is much more resistant to corrosion than copper.
• Titanium is much lighter than copper.
• Titanium is much more expensive than copper.
• Copper is a better conductor of electricity than titanium
• Copper is a better conductor of heat than titanium.
• Copper is more malleable than titanium.
• Titanium is non-toxic, while copper can be toxic in high concentrations

Conclusion:

Titanium vs. Copper – which one should you choose? The answer depends on what your project requires – titanium and copper have distinct advantages and disadvantages that make them better suited for some applications over others. In general, if your priority is strength, then go with titanium, while if cost is more important, stick with copper. However, both materials are highly versatile, so you should consider all factors before making your decision!

A passionate metal industry expert and blogger. With over 5 years of experience in the field, Palak brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to her writing. Whether discussing the latest trends in the metal industry or sharing tips, she is dedicated to helping others succeed in the metal industry.