Titanium standards: why not G23?

Updated January 2022

Esteemed Colleagues: (En Español)

I wanted to offer clarification for your jewelry materials, since this is one of my areas of expertise, so that you may give your customers the best information.

I noticed that many of you mention ASTM standards B863B348 and G23 for your materials.

Please stop.

I’ve looked into ASTM F136, and ASTM B348 GR 23 standards.

While both are 6AL-4V ELI, ASTM F136 is the specification for the alloy to be used for surgical implants.

ASTM B348 GRADE 23 is not an implant grade of titanium and is not a substitute for ASTM F136.

-official representative of Titanium Industries

Grade 23 and the ASTM B series standards are not specific descriptions of materials for contact with the human body, rather they are wide designations for commercial, industrial and engineering purposes.

For human body contact as surgical implants or body jewelry, you’ll want your Titanium stock certified from your raw materials supplier to F136, F1295, or F67, and finish the products according to F2791 and F86. This will be to your advantage, and for your customers.

The ISO equivalent of F136 is ISO 5832-3, and both are overseen by the same technical committee ISO TC150.

TECHNICAL COMMITTEES ISO/TC 150 Implants for surgery

I strongly suggest that you do not refer to Ti as G23, because it is too vague, the more specific F136 standard is what it should meet the for the purpose of body jewelry. Other jewelers often use that terminology in a vague and misleading manner.

Titanium!

As an analogy:

B863 or B348 would describe the country : G23 would describe the state  : F136 or F67 would describe the city : F2791 would describe the measurement of the surface elevations of the terrain : F86 would describe how to clean that surface

Make sure that you check your raw materials for compliance to these standards. Your Ti material supplier should provide you with references of the standards that your stock meets upon request.

I will be pleased to help you with more details to get this perfected, since from what I’ve read, most of you really seem to want to make good jewelry.

Question: 

Does ASTM F136 always equate to Ti6Al4VELI? [edited for precision]

I understand that grade 23 or grade 5 or any grade is not the same as ASTM F136. Yet I am wondering does F136 apply only to titanium with a specific amount of aluminum and vanadium. I assume it would for sure have extra low interstitial impurities. 

Does F136 always equate to Ti6Al4VELI, or is that term only as relevant to me as what “grade” the titanium is?  I did read your article and I do understand the grade is meaningless but I wasn’t sure if knowing the parts V and Al were also meaningless.

— Julie Taylor, Skindecision

Answer: 

ASTM F136 (ISO 5832-3) is a refined version of Grade 23 Ti6Al4V ELI.

The ASTM F specifications for surgical implant materials are the only meaningful thing to discuss when it comes to body jewelry. F136, F1295 and F67 are the only two currently in large scale jewelry production. Take a look at the above links for the exact ASTM recipe. Grade and the general material descriptions are meaningless to us when we need to specify a safe biomaterial.

The ASTM F136 standard is a recipe, it tells us how to make the alloy, then how to validate the results with the proper tests. An independent lab can then offer a certificate of tests for material source, so that anyone who request that material can have proof that it is safe.

I find that it is much easier to understand if you think of Ti as the wax that makes a honeycomb, as it forms a hexagonal crystal structure, with plenty of other things where the honey would be that are removed when the metal is refined. The 6% Al Oxide and 4% V Oxide are ceramics that are added to fill the gaps left in the structure for durability. Any impurities that remain would cause biological incompatibility, so ELI means Extra Low Impurities in the interstice. Basically, we remove the honey, fill the spaces with ceramic, and should be left with a strong geometric structure without any dirty leftover pollen or sugar crystals.

Glad to help clarify! People tend to obfuscate the matter for the most part as a manner of marketing. It should be certified to the correct recipe, and all we have to know is the correct recipe was followed.

There are thousands of recipes to choose from when it comes to biomaterials for implant that ASTM technical committee F04 and ISO TC 150 oversees.

Further information on biomaterials science


En Español

Standards de titanio: ¿Por qué no G23?

Estimados Colegas:

Quería ofrecer una aclaración para los materiales utilizados para joyería, ya que esta es una de mis áreas de especialización, así tu puedas brindar lo mejor a tus clientes.

Noté que muchos de ustedes mencionan las normas ASTM B863, B348 y G23 para sus materiales.

Por favor PARE.

He investigado las normas ASTM F136 y ASTM B348 GR 23.

Si bien ambos son 6AL-4V ELIASTM F136 es la especificación de la aleación que se utilizará para implantes quirúrgicos.

ASTM B348 GRADO 23 no es un grado de implante de titanio y no sustituye a ASTM F136.

-representante oficial de Titanium Industries

El grado 23 y las normas de la serie B de ASTM no son descripciones específicas de materiales para el contacto con el cuerpo humano, sino que son designaciones amplias para fines comerciales, industriales y de ingeniería.

Para contacto con el cuerpo humano como implantes quirúrgicos o joyería corporal, querrá que su stock de titanio certifique de su proveedor de materias primas a F136, F1295 o F67, y termine los productos de acuerdo con F2791 y F86. Esto será ventajoso para usted y para sus clientes.

El equivalente ISO de F136 es ISO 5832-3, y ambos son supervisados por el mismo comité técnico ISO TC150.

COMITÉS TÉCNICOS ISO / TC 150 Implants for surgery

Sugiero encarecidamente que no se refiera a Ti como G23, porque es demasiado vago, el estándar F136 más específico es lo que debe cumplir para el propósito de la joyería corporal. Otros joyeros a menudo usan esa terminología de manera vaga y engañosa.

Como una analogía:

Titanium!

B863 o B348 describiría el país:
G23 describiría el estado:
F136 o F67, la ciudad:
y F2791describiría la medición de las elevaciones de la superficie del terreno:
F86 describiría cómo limpiar esa superficie.

Asegúrese de verificar que sus materias primas cumplan con estos estándares. Su proveedor de material de Ti debe proporcionarle referencias de los estándares que cumple su stock si lo solicita.

Estaré encantado de ayudarles con más detalles para perfeccionar esto, ya que por lo que he leído, la mayoría de ustedes parece querer hacer buenas joyas.


Pregunta:

¿ASTM F136 siempre equivale a Ti6Al4VELI? [editado para mayor precisión]

Entiendo que el grado 23 o el grado 5 o cualquier grado no es lo mismo que ASTM F136. Sin embargo, me pregunto si F136 se aplica solo al titanio con una cantidad específica de aluminio y vanadio. Supongo que seguramente tendría impurezas intersticiales extra bajas.

¿F136 siempre equivale a Ti6Al4VELI, o ese término es tan relevante para mí como el “grado” del titanio? Leí su artículo y entiendo que la calificación no tiene sentido, pero no estaba seguro de si conocer las partes V y Al tampoco tenía sentido.

—Julie Taylor, Skindecision

Respuesta:

ASTM F136 (ISO 5832-3) es una versión refinada de Grado 23 Ti6Al4V ELI.

Las especificaciones ASTM F para materiales de implantes quirúrgicos son lo único significativo que se debe discutir cuando se trata de joyas para el cuerpo. F136, F1295 y F67 son los únicos dos actualmente en producción de joyería a gran escala. Eche un vistazo a los enlaces anteriores para conocer la receta exacta de ASTM. El grado y las descripciones generales del material no tienen sentido para nosotros cuando necesitamos especificar un biomaterial seguro.

El estándar ASTM F136 es una receta, nos dice cómo hacer la aleación y luego cómo validar los resultados con las pruebas adecuadas. Luego, un laboratorio independiente puede ofrecer un certificado de prueba para el material de origen, de modo que cualquier persona que solicite ese material pueda tener una prueba de que es seguro.

Encuentro que es mucho más fácil de entender si piensas en Ti como la cera que forma un panal, ya que forma una estructura de cristal hexagonal, con muchas otras cosas donde estaría la miel que se elimina cuando se refina el metal. El 6% de Óxido de Al y el 4% de Óxido de V son cerámicas que se agregan para llenar los espacios que quedan en la estructura para mayor durabilidad. Cualquier impureza que quede causaría una incompatibilidad biológica, por lo que ELI significa impurezas extra bajas en el intersticio. Básicamente, quitamos la miel, llenamos los espacios con cerámica y debe quedar con una estructura geométrica fuerte sin restos de polen sucio o cristales de azúcar.

¡Encantado de ayudar a aclarar! La gente tiende a ofuscar el asunto en su mayor parte como una forma de marketing. Debe estar certificado con la receta correcta, y todo lo que tenemos que saber es que se siguió la receta correcta.

Hay miles de recetas para elegir cuando se trata de biomateriales para implantes que supervisa el comité técnico F04 de ASTM y el TC 150 de ISO.

[Traduccion : Pablo Nicholas Perelemuter]

36 thoughts on “Titanium standards: why not G23?”

  1. Hello Brian ,,, What about the solid G23 astm F136 titanium from china ? They are showing a SGS report certificate on their products claiming to be authentic i presume, ? On this certificate Chemical Composition Analysis Test Method C.ASTM E1941-10 (2016) C/S (analyzer)
    O,N: ASTM E 1409-13 (O/N analyzer) H: ASTM E 1447-09 Others HB 7716.13. blah blah (cant read it0 then it states ,, 1) the results comply with the requirement of ASTM F136-13 2) the content test of H was carried out by East China products Quality supervision and inspection centre of China Nonferrous metals Industry, the remining elements were carried out by SGS-CSTC standard technical services (shanghai) Co,Ltd laboratory

    So im not sure what it all means and some advice would be really appreciated,, thanks so much :) Tina

    Reply
    • Hello Tina,
      A third party laboratory chemical analysis of random samples would not be sufficient to determine whether all the material purchased to be turned into jewelry would have the benefits of compliance at the melter to the ASTM F136 specification. Because melters of titanium and Ti alloys exist in many different countries, trade agreements have been established to maintain quality control and allow oversight of the production process by the health authority responsible for the countries where the product is intended to be sold.

      If the certificate is from China, it may be acceptable for China, however it may not be acceptable for export to other countries.

      Check out the article I wrote about the material sources at https://brnskll.com/shares/biomaterials-and-trustworthy-sources/ for more details.

      Reply
  2. Wow I am so glad I have found you! I have fallen into being the only piercing studio in my city (that’s another story!) I have spent the last year trying to learn everything I can about the safest piercing materials to use on and sell to my clients. I live in Australia and have discovered a disturbing lack of information available, let alone quality jewellery. Wildcat. This is the most trusted wholesaler in Australia yet they sell acrylic jewellery and the titanium is unspecified. Is it your opinion that their titanium jewellery is unsafe? I would like to provide my clients with the safest jewellery I can afford. I have been relying heavily in Invictus body jewellery. What is your experience with the safety of their titanium please? Please advise on safest wholesalers I can buy from! Many many thanks.

    Reply
    • Commercially Pure titanium is not an alloy as those standards refer to. It has it’s own set of standard specifications under ASTM F67 for variations on purity which differ mostly in the dissolved gases.

      The APP initial body jewelry standards address this:

      “Titanium (Ti6Al4V ELI) that is ASTM F136 compliant or ISO 5832-3 compliant

      Titanium that is ASTM F67 compliant”

      Reply
  3. I bought grade 23 for my daith piercing. What will happen to my piercing since I switched from surgical steel to the titanium grade 23?

    Reply
  4. Thanks for gathering and summarizing all that info! As a metallurgy and body mod aficionado I really appreciate! Do you know any jewellery manufacturers that use F 67 Ti?

    Reply
    • Only the materials under the scope of the ASTM F04.12 subcommittee on metallurgical materials that are specified for surgical implant should be considered, due to the testing performed which is required to qualify as an implant material. Using other engineering materials poses too many risks to contend with, beginning with loss of life and other major disadvantages due to unpredicted or predictable negative reactions in the human body.

      Reply
  5. Umm does wildcat sell the proper titanium or doesn't it ?
    We talked about at last years bmx (you sterilised my circular barbells with the statim, enjoyed talking to you )
    I do a lot with the wildcat stuff, not that mutch with IS … have it but people dont want to pay for it(not enough people anyway)

    Reply
  6. ASTM F136 and ASTM F67 are standards for human implant. Think of them each as a different recipe, with specifications for ingredients (chemistry), for how to mix (microstructure), also for how to cook (mechanical properties). By following the recipe, you get a predictable safe result, which can then be tested and validated to meet the ASTM standard. ASTM has started a program to track validation for suppliers at http://www.astm.org/suppliers

    Reply
    • Olá amigo! Obrigado!
      Olá amigo. O link 23 Grau que forneceu é para a categoria geral. Para cumprir a norma implante cirúrgico ou para a jóia do corpo, ele deve ser mais refinado e controlado para atender ASTM F136.
      [Hello my friend. The Grade 23 link you provided is for the broad category. To meet the surgical implant standard or for body jewelry, it must be more refined and controlled to meet ASTM F136.]

      Reply
  7. Note: We face similar issues with misleading steel standards, when companies claim industrial categories such as AISI 316L or SUS316L instead of specifically refined standards for surgical implant such as ASTM F138 or ISO 5832-1:1997 or ISO 5832-9:1992.
    * I strongly prefer jewelry materials that are entirely composed of non-toxic elements. Pure Ti ASTM F 67 over alloyed F 136, for example. I look forward to body jewelry manufacturers moving away from steel and choosing pure Ti or Ti alloyed with Nb Zr or Ta for attractive surface finish and true biocompatability rather than biotolerance.

    Reply
  8. Note: We face similar issues with misleading steel standards, when companies claim industrial categories such as AISI 316L or SUS316L instead of specifically refined standards for surgical implant such as ASTM F138 or ISO 5832-1:1997 or ISO 5832-9:1992.
    * I strongly prefer jewelry materials that are entirely composed of non-toxic elements. Pure Ti ASTM F 67 over alloyed F 136, for example. I look forward to body jewelry manufacturers moving away from steel and choosing pure Ti or Ti alloyed with Nb Zr or Ta for attractive surface finish and true biocompatability rather than biotolerance.

    Reply
  9. 1) So are the European Titanium standards and quality same as in the USA?
    2) Would you recommend buying jewelry from Europe at all?

    They say in the website that the titanium alloy that they use is Ti 6AL4V

    Reply
    • 1) ASTM and ISO safety standards are international, with very few differences. It should be possible to get quality jewelry from EU suppliers, but you should not buy without proper documentation that the products are safe.
      2) I do not yet have such documentation from any company outside of the US, although it seems that companies such as Wildcat and Trust would be willing to provide it upon request.

      The Ti alloy that you mentioned the company using is not enough to assure safety, and it is vague and possibly misleading. The Ti6Al4V alloy is primarily used for engineering and aerospace, and must be highly refined through further processes and tested for purity to ensure that it meets ASTM F136 standard for surgical implant.

      Reply
  10. thank you for the info. does it make sense if a jewelry company says that their titanium has a Nickel content that is less than 0.05% by mass
    does titanium have any nickel in it at all?

    Reply
    • The company is probably mentioning the lack of Nickel because the European regulations specify less than 0.05%, and have been revised to take into account Ni leaching into the system and the sensitization that can occur. Pure Ti is elemental and when refined should not have more than the slightest detectable amount of any other elements, with the exception of the tiniest amounts of dissolved gases such as Oxygen and Nitrogen.

      Reply
  11. ISO 5832-3:1996 would be the appropriate harmonized normative. ASTM F136 is an internationally applicable standard to demand when ordering raw materials. There are a number of other related standards under the ISO 5832 heading.

    Abstract:

    Specifies the characteristics of, and corresponding test methods for, the wrought titanium alloy known as titanium 6-aluminium 4-vanadium alloy (Ti 6-Al 4-V alloy) for use in the manufacture of surgical implants.

    http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc

    Reply
  12. I'm glad you've clarified this. I get phone calls from manufacturers constantly who claim G23 is good enough and really "implant-grade". It would be great if the APP could send notice to these vendors & manufacturers that they are giving fraudulent information.

    Reply
  13. Funny you mention Wildcat. Upon multiple emails I never did get any further than that the Ti they sold was supposed to be “G23” and that it was “implant grade”. That was all they were (willing) to say on the subject.

    Even more, I’ve been questioning their extreme claims about their new “healium” and the mere fact they did not want to share anything about the nature of the material. Quite obviously, we’re talking about a antimicrobal polymer with a selfproclaimed “G23” ball-end, externally threaded. I’l keep my personal opiniom to a minimum – as I am still writing a little article – but I would be interested in your professional opinion of the use of such polymers for initial body piercing?

    Reply
    • Please include me in your correspondence with companies and I will help interpret the standards together with you.
      I have no problems with a company introducing a novel material that has been tested and proven safe for human implant, if they provide documentation that it meets appropriate standards.

      Reply
      • Thanks Brian, that would be great! I’ll contact you as soon as I get back from them (or atleast something more than “its a secret”). I do have some questions still, regarding antimicrobactal polymers and Ethylene Oxide.. more specifically concerning alkyl or acetyl linkers and alkylation. Could I contact you about that too?

        Reply

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