Commercially pure titanium, the ductile, low-alloy alpha and unaged beta titanium alloys can be cold formed within certain limits. The amount of cold forming either in bending or stretching is a function of the tensile elongation of the material. Tensile elongation and bend data for the various grades of titanium sheet and plate can be found in ASTM Specification B265.

Heating titanium increases its formability, reduces springback, and permits maximum deformation with minimum annealing between forming operations. Mild warm forming of most grades of titanium is carried out at 204-316¡C (400-600¡F) while more severe forming is done at 482-788¡C (900-1450¡F). Heated forming dies or radiant heaters are occasionally used for low temperature forming while electric furnaces with air atmospheres are the most suitable for heating to higher temperatures. Gas fired furnaces are acceptable if flame impingement is avoided and the atmosphere is slightly oxidizing.

Any hot forming and/or annealing of titanium products in air at temperatures above approximately 590-620¡C (1100-1150¡F) produces a visible surface oxide scale and diffused-in oxygen layer (alpha case) that may require removal on fatigue- and/or fracture-critical components. Oxide scale removal can be achieved mechanically (i.e., grit-blasting or grinding) or by chemical descale treatment (i.e., molten hot alkaline salt descale). This is generally followed by pickling in HF-HNO₃ acid solutions, machining or grinding to ensure total alpha case removal, where required. These acid pickle solutions are typically maintained in the 5:1 to 10:1 volume % HNO₃ to HF ratio (as stock acids) to minimize hydrogen pickup depending on alloy type.