Why Titanium?

After twenty-one months of use, 6-4 titanium alloy’s strengths over the tool steel used in current blades are clear:

1. 6-4 titanium blades are lighter than steel blades, because of the higher strength to weight ratio and lower density compared to steel. Even when engineering the titanium alloy blades for additional strength, Pegasus blades are almost half the weight of comparable steel blades.
2. It has greater tensile strength (ultimate tensile strength of 6-4 titanium at room temperature is 130,000 psi - several times higher than tool steel).
3. Blades made of 6-4 titanium can hold an edge much better than blades made of tool steel. Almost impossible side forces are controllable because of the better flex and almost total lack of acoustic resonance.
4. Titanium does not conduct heat well at all, which is a plus as a skate blade material. The blades won’t suck the heat right out of your feet on the ice when the rink is real cold like steel blades.
5. Titanium blades do not ride as harsh as steel for several reasons. Most metals, including steel, become brittle and lose tensile strength as temperature decreases. Titanium actually shows an increase in tensile strength as temperature decreases and does not dramatically lose flexibility at low temperatures like steel.
6. Titanium does not rust or corrode like steel.
7. 6-4 titanium and chromium have almost identical coefficients of expansion. This means that the chrome plating on titanium will not crack like it does on steel blades over time.
8. 6-4 titanium blades do not need to be sharpened as often as steel blades due to its superior toughness.
9. 6-4 titanium has much better spring for jumps than steel due to its better flex and memory at low temperature.
10. 6-4 titanium’s better memory means that it is unlikely that a titanium alloy blade will become "tweaked" like a steel blade when undergoing extreme stress. "Memory" is the ability for a material to remember it’s original shape when being flexed (bent).
11. 6-4 titanium resonates at a much lower frequency. When landing jumps there is no noticeable ringing in the blade to add disturbing physical forces that must be overcome. Titanium blades are quieter on the ice than steel blades due to this fact.

The only negatives observed by 6-4 titanium alloy blades over steel blades:

1. Price. Quality finished production blades are twice as expensive as top of the line steel blades to consumers. Manufacturing costs for titanium alloy blades are several times higher than steel due to all the qualities that make it such a great material.
2. Blade sharpening times are several times higher than steel. This means that consumers will be charged more when they get their skates sharpened.