Titanium Sword

Contrary to popular belief, Titanium is NOT stronger than steel, rather, it has a higher strength to weight ratio than steel. Technically, so does aluminum.

What this means is that if you have two swords, let's say Sword A and Sword B, and A is steel, and B is titanium. If you make them the same size, sword A will be far heavier, but sword B will be much weaker(a la glorified aluminum). But if you make them the same MASS, i.e. the same weight, the titanium sword would actually be stronger. So far so good. Here's the catch: The Titanium sword would be approximately 3 times the size of the steel sword.

'So', you say, 'what's wrong with a big sword if it's stronger than it's smaller sized steel counterpart?' Well, for one there's far larger stresses that'll be had on certain parts of the blade, and when you make an impact with it(by striking it with another sword, or striking it into something else), it's strength over that section that makes the impact will be smaller, because there's still only so much blade making contact(that section of blade that does make contact will be far lighter than the section on the steel blade as well, but this is of little consequence).

Titanium in it's pure form is also very soft, not suitable for sword at all. Certain titanium alloys are much harder, but then you get a brittleness problem. Getting one in the range desirable for swords is a tricky and expensive problem, and for the most part we're still better off using steel.

Certain benefits to Titanium though, are that it is practically immune to corrosion(even from most acids), and doesn't rust. It's also non-magnetic. I think when titanium alloys are improved, we'll see some in the knife world, but I don't think we'll see any swords in the near(or distant) future.

The one sword-like application it does have is as a micro-coating for swords. I've heard of certain smiths somehow laminating an extremely thin layer of titanium alloy over a steel core(similar to a San Mai type construction). This would protect the blade from rust or corrosion, but do little else.

I would like to see some edge on edge tests to compare. Blashamy? non traditional? maybe... but I bet that is what the ancient Greeks said as they shifted out of the Bronze age into the Iron age.

when molecuses of something are bonded together to make a solid, the atomic forces that bind them are among the strongest forces of the universe, to put it cheesily.

I can't imagine you be able to pack them together any tighter than the laws of nature allow. If you tried then the sword would break if too hard, or mold thinner and spread out(like clay).

I read in an arcticle of BLADE magazine that there is a smith who makes titanium knives and swords by mixing titanium and carbon fiber and nobody knows how he does it.(oh and theyre good!)

One of the new exotic alloys might show a good deal of promise. Particularly the scandium alloys Smith&Wesson has been using for a few years. One of the problems is actually getting hold of any of it. But I can attest from experience that it is, by mass, i.e. in objects of the exact same size, both stronger and lighter than steel.

However, "stronger" is kind of a subjective term. The tensile strength is quite a bit higher. But titanium for instance, is not nearly as durable as steel. I have been involved with parts made of titanium. That alloy has a tendency to "migrate" when subjected to repetitive contact with other hard surfaces. For that reason, we had to mill round holes wherever bearing surfaces occurred. We then press-fit hardened steel rods (hardened and tempered 5160, just like ATrim blades in fact) into the holes. This solved the problem completely. So it seems like a "modular" blade design might work best. Make the center of the blade of titanium, or better yet scandium, with dovetailed edges. Then slide a matching hardened and tempered 5160 steel set of edges over the central section, and attach with a secure mechanism.

If done well, that might make a very nice looking and functioning sword. It could be large and durable, but remain the same weight as a smaller sword. Of course with all that machine work and exotic materials it would have to cost at least a couple thousand dollars, maybe more.

Adam, that is a GREAT article! That helped me understand a bunch of things I've seen but maybe didn't fully understand. Especially the part about the low "harden-ability" of the titanium alloy parts we were working with. It also explains a lot about why we only like to use titanium nitride coated tungsten carbide end mills and drill bits for working the harder metals. But d@#n! are they expensive in the larger sizes!

So how about a scandium alloy central blade, with a hardened 5160 edge piece that slides over, sharpen it via EDM machining into a perfect appleseed edge, then coat the steel with titanium nitride?

Any takers? ;D

I was thinking about that article some more today. It seems that titanium might be perfect for making armor and shields. Lighter, stronger and more volume then the stainless steel most commonly used today in SCA fighting.

It was my understanding that Russell Crowe's swords, armour and shield were all made from Titanium in the movie 'Gladiator'( I have a friend that supplies movie-makers with weapons of pre-designed specifics).

Apparently they are as light as heck, but are poorly balanced, and Titanium has a problem keeping an edge.

However,I would be fond of some wrapped around a moulded billet of 5160 steel !! Yes sir Bob ! It would make a pretty interesting blade.

cgi.ebay.com/Warren-Thomas-Carbon-Titanium-Katana-Sword-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ180088524234QQihZ008QQcategoryZ114231QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

a katana made from titanium, wonder it it's actually any good?(not that i have even the slightest thought of buying it but still.. ;P )