Pickling or etching titanium is useful to remove scale and contamination (for example particles of other metals or organics). Contamination is important to remove as it may be a site for corrosion, particularly in the case of other metals which may cause galvanic corrosion.

After pickling it may be advantageous to anodise the titanium. The anodising forms a thin oxide layer, but also provides a way of visibly verifying the status of the part (whereas pickling is barely discernable on an otherwise clean looking part). Anodising may also remove contamination.