Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


-----

Need to polish or smooth inside of 1/16" Titanium tube

July 17, 2008

I am trying to polish or achieve a smooth finish on the inside surface of a 1/16" OD Ti tube 8' long. The wall thickness hasn't been selected yet as I am still searching for a new Ti tubing supplier. Ideally I would like a polished surface, and am trying to find any way to make this happen. Currently the inside is very rough and lots of particulates can find their way into crevaces. I can send anyone a microscope picture of the surface if that helps although I am currently looking for a new tubing supplier. The tube has to be Ti because we are flowing corrosive liquids through it.
Thanks in advance,
Josh

Josh Miller
Design Engineer at tech firm - San Diego, California, USA

---

We have two different methods of chemically polishing of titanium tubes inner surface. Send us few samples of the tubing and we will test and send back for evaluation.

Anna Berkovich
Russamer Lab

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

July 21, 2008

---

There are 2 other ways to improve your ID, but because of your small ID, both of these have problems. The less expensive way is to do a process called ballizing where you insert and push a ball into the ID all the way through and normally back again. The second is an extrusion type process using an abrasive silly puty like substance.

AF Kenton
retired business owner - Hatboro, Pennsylvania
July 22, 2008