What is the difference between titanium screws and stainless steel screws?

Density / Weight

With a density of approximately 4.51g/cm³, it is about 40% lighter than stainless steel of the same specifications.

Approximately 7.9g/cm³, significantly heavier in weight

magnetism

Completely non-magnetic, strong magnets do not attract

304 non-magnetic/weakly magnetic, 316 non-magnetic, some stainless steels (e.g. 430) are magnetic

appearance gloss

Silver gray / dark gray, cool metallic luster; can be used as anodized color coating

Silver / Bright silver, with a warm sheen; usually in its original color or electroplated coating

corrosion resistance

Extremely stable (more stable in extreme environments such as acids, alkalis, and seawater)

Strong (corrosion resistant in normal environments, prone to rust in strong acid/high salt environments)

hardness / strength

Gr5 has a strength of 895-1100MPa, with high hardness and excellent toughness.

304 titanium alloy with a strength of approximately 520MPa and a hardness below that of Grade 5 titanium alloy

price

The price is 3-8 times that of stainless steel with the same specifications

Low cost, affordable price

characteristic

The head is typically labeled with titanium material codes such as TA2/TC4/Gr5.

The head is always marked with stainless steel labels such as 304/316.

chemical characteristic

Instantaneous bubbling upon contact with dilute nitric acid

No obvious reaction with dilute nitric acid

corrosion mechanism

A dense titanium dioxide (TiO₂) film forms on the surface, which can self-repair quickly after damage and prevent further corrosion of the internal material.

A passive film of chromium oxide (Cr2O3) is formed on the surface, but the repair ability is weak and the passive film is easily destroyed by chloride ions.

acid and alkali resistance

-Acid-resistant (hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, etc.): Suitable for prolonged use at moderate concentrations, with better stability than stainless steel in concentrated acids. -Alkali-resistant (sodium hydroxide, etc.): Resistant to corrosion even under high-temperature strong alkali conditions.

-304: Resistant to mild acids and alkalis, but prone to corrosion in concentrated acids or strong alkalis. -316: Slightly more resistant to mild acids, but still susceptible to corrosion in concentrated acids or strong alkalis.

salt spray / seawater corrosion resistance

Exceptionally durable! Resistant to pitting and crevice corrosion when exposed to seawater or salt spray for extended periods (e.g., marine equipment, ships), with a service life 5-10 times longer than stainless steel.

-304: Rust spots appear after 100-200 hours in salt spray conditions-316: Enhanced salt spray resistance, corrosion occurs after 500-1000 hours, but pitting corrosion still occurs

resistance to chloride ion corrosion

The chloride ion concentration remains stable above 10,000 ppm (as seen in chemical and electroplating industries), with no risk of stress corrosion cracking.

When chloride ion concentration exceeds 500ppm, pitting corrosion (304) or crevice corrosion (316) may occur, especially under high temperature and high pressure conditions.

High / Low Temperature Corrosion Stability

The stability of the passivation film can be maintained at high temperature (300~500℃) and there is no corrosion aggravation at low temperature.

The passivation film is prone to decomposition at high temperatures (over 200℃), resulting in reduced corrosion resistance. While corrosion resistance improves slightly at low temperatures, it remains inferior to that of titanium alloys.

Common use cases

Marine engineering, chemical equipment, medical implants, aerospace, and strong acid/strong alkali environments

Building decoration, general machinery, indoor equipment, freshwater environment, mild corrosion scenarios