Titanium is known for its light weight,high-strength and very good corrosion resistance. However, in some areas titanium is often coming short; due to its softness the material suffers from poor wear and galling resistance. This is limiting the use of titanium and forcing design engineers to make compromises. Expanite is changing the game by introducing ExpaniteHard-Ti.

ExpaniteHard-Ti represents a new generation of surface hardening technology for titanium. Unlike conventional coatings or surface nitriding, the Expanite process is a solid-solution diffusion treatment that modifies the material from within — not by applying an external layer. This means the hardened surface becomes an integral part of the titanium itself, resulting in exceptional durability, improved wear and galling resistance, and long-term performance stability even under dynamic loading or in harsh environments.

Whereas traditional coating methods often fail due to cracking, delamination, or changes in surface , ExpaniteHard-Ti maintains the pure metallic character of the titanium surface. There are no brittle phases, no nitride layers, and no color changes — only a smooth, high-hardness finish that is safe, stable, and fully biocompatible.

Titanium’s low hardness and strong chemical reactivity have historically made surface hardening difficult. Expanite’s patented heat treatment and surface hardening technologies overcomes this challenge by introducing nitrogen and carbon atoms directly into the metal lattice under controlled temperature and atmosphere.
This diffusion-based process increases compressive stress near the surface, creating a hardened zone.

Because the process is purely thermal and chemical — without coatings or plasma arcs — it preserves titanium’s excellent corrosion resistance, thermal conductivity, and fatigue strength.

This balance between hardness and corrosion protection makes ExpaniteHard-Ti the ideal choice for high-performance titanium parts exposed to friction, mechanical load, or sliding contact.

Just like all Expanite technologies, ExpaniteHard-Ti is designed with sustainability in mind. The treatment is dry, clean, and entirely chemical-free, producing no toxic waste or harmful by-products.

Processing times are short, energy consumption is minimized, and components are treated without the need for pre-coating or masking.

Compared to traditional hardening treatments  ExpaniteHard-Ti delivers superior results with a fraction of the environmental footprint — aligning with the company’s ISO14001-certified environmental management system.

ExpaniteHard-Ti is already making a measurable difference in industries where performance, precision, and cleanliness are non-negotiable.
In the medical device sector, ExpaniteHard-Ti offers improved wear resistance without affecting biocompatibility — perfect for surgical instruments and implants.
In Aerospace and Oil & Gas/Energy applications, where titanium is valued for strength-to-weight ratio but limited by galling, the Expanite treatment dramatically improves reliability, reducing maintenance and extending component life.
Customers report up to five-fold increases in surface hardness and substantial reduction in friction, even in dry-running or vacuum environments.

Click below to learn more about the Expanite technology for hardening titanium Grade 2 and 5.