Case Study: Niobium Mesh for Titanium Anodizing Basket

Stanford Advanced Materials is a reliable supplier of advanced materials and has been at the forefront of special product supply in an array of industries for many years. More recently, the company provided support to a high-technology manufacturing project for the production of a titanium anodising basket; this special basket for titanium anodising called for a custom-made solution using a special type of niobium mesh—a practical solution for the critical need in the titanium anodising industry.

Fig. 1 Niobium Mesh

The Challenge

The project entailed the prototyping of a titanium anodising basket that would be resistant to the very corrosive and high-temperature environment in the anodising process. Some of the technical demands of this basket were as follows:

• Corrosion Resistance: Titanium anodising involves immersion of titanium parts in an electrolytic bath in very high voltages and acidic conditions; the basket materials should therefore be resistant to such corrosion.
• Structural Integrity at High Temperatures: Anodising and post refining processes are performed at high temperatures. The material selected to make the basket needed to retain structural integrity without deforming or weakening under these conditions.
• Compatibility with Titanium Anodising Process: The material must support the titanium parts while keeping accurate dimensional tolerances to allow uniform coating during the anodising process.

The material operating in such conditions needed to be durable and not too expensive, keeping all the properties it had. The ease of use required making this basket practical for manufacturing facilities.

Fig. 2 Titanium Anodising Basket

The Solution

After carefully considering the requirements of the project, the technical advisors at SAM recommended the use of niobium mesh for the construction of the prototype anodising basket. Niobium was chosen to meet key requirements such as:

1. Corrosion Resistance: Niobium is highly resistant to corrosion, mainly in acidic conditions. This makes it very ideal for use in anodising baths. Unlike materials such as stainless steel, that may corrode or degrade over time in such environments, niobium maintains its structural and chemical integrity throughout the anodising process.

2. High-Temperature Stability: The resistance of Niobium to high temperatures is very good, and it is important for maintaining the stability of the anodising basket during the heating phase of the anodising process. Because of its very high melting point (in excess of 2 400°C), when such heat is applied, it will not deform or lose strength.

3. Durability and Strength: Niobium combines strength and flexibility in a unique way. It can be fabricated into a mesh that is lightweight yet strong, ensuring that the basket is durable while still being able to handle the weight of the titanium parts being anodised.

4. Customisation: SAM worked closely with the customer to design a custom niobium mesh basket using the client's specified dimensions and design criteria. The mesh was specially tailored to ensure the best possible support for the titanium parts during anodising to achieve maximum uniformity and quality of the anodised coating.

The Results

The prototype niobium mesh basket worked very well in the anodising process for titanium. The main deliverables from the project were:

• Cost-Effective: The cost of using niobium was relatively affordable compared to other materials such as platinum or graphite used for anodising baskets, which may be more expensive and short-lived. Niobium mesh replaced them, offering a longer life and less frequent change-out.
• Compatibility with Titanium Anodising: The basket supported the titanium parts effectively during the anodising, thus maintaining uniform coating thickness. These are very important features for the look, performance, and durability of the anodised titanium parts themselves.

What Is Niobium Mesh?

The mesh is made from niobium, a transition metal with excellent properties at high temperatures and in corrosive conditions. Niobium mesh is either woven or expanded from sheets of niobium to form a network-like material with thin, fibrous strands capable of supporting and holding various materials.

Applications of Niobium Mesh

The element Niobium boasts excellent resistance to oxidation, corrosion, and high temperatures, hence being widely used in aerospace, electronics, and chemical processing.

• Aerospace: Niobium is utilised in aerospace industries because it offers resistance to high temperatures and corrosion, hence making it the perfect candidate for parts exposed to extreme conditions.
• Chemical Processing: Niobium mesh is used in reactors and other chemical-processing equipment, where its resistance to corrosion is an essential factor.

• Electrochemical Applications: Niobium is used both in electrochemical cells as well as in other electrochemical uses, where its resistance to corrosion and to high temperatures is considered an advantage.
• Medical Devices: Niobium is used in medical implants and devices because of its biocompatibility; the applications require strong but non-reactive material.

Conclusion

This project presented Stanford Advanced Materials with an opportunity to showcase SAM's capability in offering value-added material solutions for various advanced manufacturing applications. The utilisation of niobium mesh for the prototype titanium anodising basket resolved many critical issues concerning corrosion, high-temperature stability, and durability and thus was regarded as an ideal solution to meet customer anodising requirements. The capability of SAM to fabricate and customise niobium mesh to cater to the specific needs of the project further enhanced its reputation as a reliable source for advanced materials in the high-tech manufacturing sector.