What is a titanium getter?

A titanium getter in vacuum heat treating is a reactive material used to enhance the vacuum by removing unwanted gas contaminants. This is achieved through adsorption, absorption, or chemical binding with the gas molecules. Titanium, along with other metals like stainless steel, zirconium, and hafnium, are commonly used as getter materials due to their properties which are suitable for heat-treating applications​​.

In practice, titanium getters are particularly effective when processing titanium parts. To prevent oxidation and discoloration during annealing processes within a temperature range of 650°C to 760°C, titanium scraps are often included with the parts in the vacuum. This method ensures that the parts’ surfaces remain clean​​.

Furthermore, non-evaporable getters, which often include alloys from Group IV and V elements, are integral to creating ultra-high vacuum environments. These materials have unique surface properties that enable achieving vacuum conditions of 10^-10 mbar or lower. They are used in various ways depending on the application, including in electronic tubes and semiconductor manufacturing.

Source: VAC AERO International – Getter Materials