A reliable coil order describes one continuous material system: the starting material, finished dimensions, edge and shape, coil geometry, downstream equipment interface, acceptance evidence and packing. A material grade alone cannot control whether a coil feeds, forms or arrives without damage.
1. Start with the Product and Supply Scope
Use this guide for continuous flat-rolled titanium master coil and slit strip. If the requirement is a bent tube coil, wire coil, heating element, spring or other formed product, use the product specification for that form instead.
Define source/final width, unit weight, ID/OD, edge, surface and whether later conversion is in the buyer’s scope.
Define child width, edge/burr, camber, winding, number of coils, identification and parent-lot traceability.
Define thickness, width, length, flatness, edge, orientation, surface protection and pack quantity.
Define units, achievable thickness-width combination, measurement method, handling and surface or pinhole criteria where required.
2. Freeze Grade, Standard and Condition
Name the titanium grade and UNS designation when needed, the governing material specification and revision, and the ordered condition. Do not combine a standard name with a condition or product form that has not been checked against the standard’s scope.
| Order field | What to state | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Material identity | Grade, UNS or approved customer designation | Prevents ambiguous commercial grade names |
| Specification | Standard/customer specification and revision | Controls scope, tests and acceptance |
| Condition | Annealed, as-rolled, cold-worked or approved condition | Affects properties, forming and route |
| Substitution | Permitted alternatives and approval route | Prevents unapproved material or process change |
ASTM B265 covers titanium and titanium-alloy strip, sheet and plate within its scope. It should be invoked only where the ordered grade, product form, dimensions, condition and edition align; it is not a universal certificate for every product sold as coil or foil.
3. Thickness, Width and Tolerances
Always write values with units. State nominal thickness, thickness tolerance or allowed variation, final width and width tolerance. For tight requirements, agree measurement equipment, contact force where relevant, edge exclusion, locations, sampling, rounding and reporting.
- Do not accept a maximum width claim without the associated grade, thickness, condition and tolerance.
- Do not treat thin gauge as proof of tight tolerance or surface quality.
- Separate thickness variation, width variation, flatness, camber, coil set and waviness.
- Use drawings for profiles, cut sheets, datums and critical orientation.
4. Coil Geometry and Payoff Interface
Coil ID, OD and unit weight are linked. State the core or mandrel interface, preferred or fixed ID, maximum OD, minimum/maximum unit weight, width, winding direction, eye-to-sky or eye-to-wall orientation, splice policy and permitted telescoping.
Record uncoiler mandrel range, maximum lifted weight, payoff direction, strip orientation, line speed, edge guiding, coil-car access and lifting method. These details can be more important than a generic coil diameter.
5. Slitting, Edge, Burr, Camber and Shape
“Slit edge” is not a complete acceptance requirement. Define final slit width, width tolerance, edge type, burr direction and limit, edge damage, camber, flatness or coil set, test length/reference area, sampling and report requirement.
| Characteristic | Control question | Possible evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Width | Where and how often is width measured? | Slitting inspection record |
| Burr | Which side, method and maximum value apply? | Edge measurement report |
| Camber | What gauge length and limit apply? | Recorded sample result |
| Flatness / coil set | What unloaded reference and acceptance method apply? | Agreed test record or approved sample |
| Edge damage | What dents, nicks or rollover are unacceptable? | Visual standard and receiving criteria |
6. Surface, Cleanliness and Interleaving
Words such as mill, bright, matte, clean or polished need an order-specific definition when surface affects forming, welding, bonding, coating or appearance. State finish, roughness method/value where necessary, visual-defect limits, cleaning method, permitted residue, oil/handling restrictions and approved interleaving or protective film.
- Separate cosmetic criteria from functional surface requirements.
- Define whether the buyer permits marker, tape, paper, oil or protective film contact.
- Agree sample area, lighting or instrument and acceptance standard.
- Confirm whether re-cleaning or respooling requires notice or approval.
7. Process Route, Responsibility and Change Control
The order-specific route may include source coil procurement, rolling, intermediate/final annealing, pickling or cleaning, slitting, leveling, cutting, inspection and packing. Identify which party performs each step and which records follow the finished child coil.
- Approve the material and conversion route.
- Freeze critical process and inspection responsibility.
- Require written approval for source, route, condition or subcontractor changes where qualification depends on them.
- Preserve the link from parent heat/lot and coil to every child coil or pack.
8. Application Qualification Boundaries
Material identity does not establish weldability or finished-tube compliance. Define edge, cleanliness, forming, weld procedure and tube qualification.
Define drawability, thickness control, surface, shape and the customer’s stamping and component qualification.
Raw coil does not establish coating compatibility, electrical performance, corrosion life or system qualification.
Material conformity alone does not establish suitability for the actual media, concentration, temperature, stress, fabrication route or design code.
9. Inspection, Documents and Traceability
Create an order-specific inspection and document index. For every characteristic, state method, sampling, acceptance criteria and whether a report is required. An MTC does not automatically prove surface, edge, coil geometry or packing.
| Evidence group | Typical content when specified | Acceptance check |
|---|---|---|
| Material | MTC, heat/lot, grade, chemistry, mechanical results, condition | Certificate, PO and labels agree |
| Dimensions | Thickness/width results and sampling map | Units, method and tolerance align |
| Conversion | Slitting, edge, burr, camber or shape record | Finished coil is linked to the result |
| Coil data | ID, OD, net weight, winding, splice and child-coil list | Compatible with equipment and packing list |
| Release | Inspection index, labels, packing list, deviation approvals | All exceptions are closed or accepted |
10. Packing, Handling and Logistics
Define eye orientation, core support, restraints, edge protection, wraps, interleaving, moisture protection, crate, lifting points and maximum package weight. Confirm how the receiver should unload, open, store and return partially used coils to storage.
- Prevent telescoping, pressure marks, abrasion, edge impact and moisture exposure.
- Match lifting and pallet/crate access to the receiving facility.
- Align inner coil identity, outer label, packing list and material documents.
- State destination, Incoterm, named place and any wood-packaging requirement.
11. Cost and Quotation Comparison
Price can be driven by alloy, condition, source coil, gauge-width combination, tolerance, rolling/annealing, slitting yield, edge and shape controls, surface/cleaning, coil configuration, inspection, quantity, packing and logistics. Normalize these items before comparing unit price.
- Compare the same master/slit/cut scope and quantity unit.
- Separate material, conversion, special inspection, packing, freight and taxes where useful.
- Record whether MOQ is driven by source coil, process setup, slitting or shipment lot.
- Break schedule into material, conversion, inspection/documents, packing and transit.
12. Complete Titanium Coil Purchase Guard
12.1 Product identity
- State master coil, slit strip, cut sheet or thin-gauge coil.
- Exclude tube, wire, heating and spring coil interpretations.
- Name grade/UNS, specification and revision, condition and approved substitutions.
12.2 Gauge and width capability
- State thickness and width with units and tolerances.
- Review the exact grade × condition × thickness × width combination.
- Agree measurement method, positions, edge exclusion, sampling and reporting.
12.3 Edge and shape
- Define mill/slit/trimmed edge and burr direction/limit.
- Define camber, flatness, coil set and waviness only where required.
- State methods, gauge length/reference area and acceptance.
12.4 Coil configuration
- Provide core/ID, maximum OD and unit-weight range.
- State winding direction, orientation, splice policy and telescoping limit.
- Confirm uncoiler, lifting and handling restrictions.
12.5 Surface and cleanliness
- Define finish, roughness where necessary, visible-defect limits and cleaning.
- State permitted residues, oils, contact materials, interleaving and film.
- Use a reference sample or visual standard where words alone are insufficient.
12.6 Inspection and evidence
- For each check, state method, sampling, acceptance and report requirement.
- Link heat/lot, parent coil, child coil, MTC, label and packing list.
- Define witness, third-party inspection and deviation approval if needed.
12.7 Source and process control
- Identify rolling, annealing, cleaning, slitting, leveling and packing responsibility.
- Freeze critical source and route requirements.
- Require approval before substitutions or qualification-sensitive changes.
12.8 MOQ, availability and schedule
- Distinguish physical stock, incoming material, planned conversion and mill order.
- Record the actual MOQ driver and quantity tolerance.
- Separate material, conversion, inspection, packing and transit timing.
12.9 Commercial comparability
- Normalize kg/coil/meter/sheet quantity and finished versus source weight.
- Align currency, payment, Incoterm, named place and quotation validity.
- List inclusions, exclusions and technical exceptions beside price.
12.10 Packing and receiving
- Define eye orientation, restraints, edge protection, wrap, crate and lifting.
- Set maximum package weight and receiving equipment limits.
- Align labels and documents and state storage instructions.
Red flags before purchase order
Thickness, width, grade, condition and tolerance are not linked.
ID, OD, weight, winding, orientation and equipment interface are missing.
No width, burr, camber, edge-damage method or limit is stated.
Surface, shape, slitting and coil data have no separate records.
Decision gate
Do not release the order until material, dimensions, edge/shape, coil interface, process responsibility, evidence, packing, exceptions and commercial terms describe the same deliverable.
13. RFQ and Pre-Order Checklist
Grade/UNS, specification/revision, condition and required properties.
Thickness/width with units and tolerances; required shape controls.
Edge, burr, camber, finish, roughness, cleanliness and protection.
ID/core, maximum OD, unit weight, winding, orientation and splice policy.
MTC, traceability, dimensional/slitting records, witness and deviation control.
Quantity basis, MOQ, validity, packing, destination, Incoterm and required date.
14. Titanium Coil Purchasing FAQ
What is the difference between master coil and slit coil?
A master coil retains the source or mill width. A slit coil is converted to a narrower ordered width. The slit product needs its own width, edge, burr, camber, winding and child-coil identification controls.
Are coil, strip, foil and sheet separated by one universal thickness?
No. Commercial terminology varies by specification and supplier. Use the governing specification, dimensions, delivery form and purchase order rather than an unsupported universal cutoff.
Which coil dimensions should be stated?
State nominal thickness and width with tolerances, coil ID or core, maximum OD, minimum or maximum unit weight, winding direction, eye orientation and any uncoiler restrictions.
How should camber, flatness and coil set be handled?
Treat them as separate characteristics. Define the measurement method, gauge length or reference area, sampling and acceptance limit for each one that affects the downstream process.
Does an MTC prove surface and slitting quality?
Usually not by itself. Chemistry and mechanical results do not automatically prove roughness, cleanliness, burr, camber, coil geometry or packing. Require the specific inspection records needed for acceptance.
How should competing coil quotations be compared?
Normalize grade, specification revision, condition, thickness and width tolerances, edge and shape controls, coil configuration, inspection, documents, quantity basis, packing, Incoterm, schedule assumptions and exclusions.