Titanium alloy (TC4) pitot probes are valued for their high strength-to-weight ratio, making them ideal for weight-sensitive applications like drones or aerospace models, but their high-temperature performance requires careful evaluation.Sensor Calibrationwelcome to click on the website to learn more!
The specific strength (strength-to-density ratio) of TC4 is approximately 25% higher than that of 304 stainless steel, allowing for thinner probe walls (0.5-0.8mm) without sacrificing rigidity. This reduces airflow disturbance, a critical advantage in low-speed wind tunnels where even small probes can alter flow patterns. In a drone testing scenario, switching from stainless steel to TC4 probes reduced model weight by 30%, improing test accuracy.
However, TC4’s performance degrades noticeably above 400°C. At 450°C, its yield strength drops by 20% compared to room temperature, and creep becomes significant under sustained loads. A turbine test found that a TC4 probe deformed by 0.1mm after 100 hours at 420°C, leading to measurement errors of 2.5%.
For low-temperature (<300°C) and weight-critical applications, TC4 is excellent. It also offers better corrosion resistance than stainless steel in dilute acids and seawater, making it suitable for marine flow tests. But for high-temperature environments, combining TC4 with a ceramic coating (alumina or zirconia) can extend its usable range to 550°C, though the coating adds 10-15% to the probe’s weight.
Installation tips include using titanium-compatible fasteners (to avoid galvanic corrosion) and avoiding sharp bends in the probe stem, as TC4 is more prone to fatigue cracking under cyclic stress than steel.