Material trends in aeroengines
Where do we go from here?
Materials trends for aero engines
Since the late 1950s the introduction and importance of titanium and nickel based superalloys has steadily increased and reached its peak around the turn of the century. While these alloys are still predominant today, a new group of engineered light weight high strength/high temperature resistant materials is growing fast:
a) PMC’s, Polymer Matrix Composites.
b) MMC’s, Metal Matrix Composites.
c) TiAl, Titanium Aluminides.
These new materials have the ability to reduce component weights by 30-40% while providing equal or superior strength and/or temperature resistance. PMC’s are applied to engine covers while MMC’s and Titanium Aluminides are suitable
for turbine parts. TiAl can also be used in the engine hot sections.
Find more information on materials click on the right hand side links.