Residual stress on titanium alloy welded joints

Titanium and its alloys presents an elevated strength/weight ratio, good mechanical properties also to high temperatures, elevated resistance to corrosion and to most part of acids attack. These characteristics makes this material attractive for numerous applications. Thanks to recent improvements in welding techniques that allow the realization of high quality welded joints, the employ of titanium alloys is spreading in numerous field which range from aerospace to chemical industry. Naval industry, for which the corrosion in the aggressive sea air constitutes a discriminating element in the choice of materials, is weighing possible employs of the titanium. Structural application of titanium alloy are still under study, while some use of titanium sheet as coating of the bottom of the ships against corrosion, instead of the traditional but polluting protective paints, are yet realized.