For titanium strips of the same grade and thickness, quoted prices often vary significantly. The overlooked factor is usually not the chemical composition, but the surface condition. Although it is not listed in the chemical composition table, it directly determines whether the material can be used in specific operating conditions-and the corresponding price. Surface condition is the second price-determining factor, aside from chemical composition.
01 Definition:
Based on the delivery condition and surface treatment, titanium strips are primarily classified into four categories: bright annealed (BA), annealed and pickled (AP, commonly known as "rough-surfaced"), brushed/sandblasted, and mirror-polished. BA is annealed in a protective atmosphere (typically hydrogen or an inert gas, or in a vacuum), so the surface remains unoxidized and has a mirror-like luster; the pickled finish is obtained by removing scale with a mixed acid solution (hydrofluoric acid + nitric acid) after annealing, resulting in a dull, grayish-white appearance. The chemical composition of both finishes is identical; the difference stems solely from the post-treatment process. Standard dimensions are specified in ASTM B265.
02 Specifications:
The criteria for surface quality grading focus on defects rather than gloss. Surface quality grades are defined based on defects such as scratches, indentations, pits, scale, peeling, and delamination; BA requires a high gloss and does not permit dullness or water marks, while the pickled finish allows pickling marks but must be free of residual scale. In terms of surface roughness (Ra), BA is significantly lower than the pickled finish, with mirror-grade surfaces reaching submicron levels, which directly affects cleanliness and subsequent coating and lamination processes.
03 Mapping:
The selection of finishes based on service conditions should be guided by service exposure requirements. BA (Bright Annealed) finishes are suitable for applications where the surface is exposed, as well as in clean or biocompatible environments: medical device housings and implant substrates (which must meet food/biocontact requirements), food processing equipment, architectural finishes, and electrolytic anode substrates (which rely on clean surfaces for coating application). The pickled/matte finish is suitable for structural and environmental corrosion scenarios: chemical process vessels, heat exchangers, seawater piping, and structural components that require pickling or machining after welding-in which cases, a bright finish offers no added value.
04 Cost:
The logic behind the price difference: The BA process involves more steps (protective atmosphere annealing furnace, full-process oxidation prevention, yield constraints) and fewer post-processing steps, resulting in the highest price; the pickled state process is one step simpler and offers better cost-effectiveness. The price difference does not reflect "higher or lower quality," but rather "the match between the process and its intended application." Purchasing decisions should be based on a three-dimensional assessment: whether the surface will be exposed during service, whether cleanliness or biocompatibility is required, and whether post-welding treatment is needed-rather than simply pursuing a bright finish.
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