TK Stainless

high-performance materials
in airCraFT new materials from
thyssenkrupp titanium provide added safety.
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MaGaZine
speCiaL aLLoys For airCraFT TurBines
proViDe aDDeD saFeTy
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A new development from ThyssenKrupp Titanium is contributing to greater
safety in aircraft: Production routes for ingots of the special titanium alloy Ti-
6Al-4V have been improved under a research project. This has made it possible
to produce a particularly fine-grained and low-textured – i.e. homogeneous –
material for use in the high-pressure compressors of aircraft turbines. These
parts, which are located in the center of a turbine and are used to compress the
air, have to withstand severe loads. “Compared with conventional materials,
the optimized structure of the alloy delivers significantly improved mechanical
properties,” explains Dr. Jürgen Kiese, head of research and development at
ThyssenKrupp Titanium in Essen. “Strength and formability are particularly
enhanced.” Both attributes serve to make the material more robust, for it is
vital that these critical parts never fail.
“The material is also easier to test, which is a further boost to safety,”
says Kiese. “Ultrasound testing can identify even the smallest defect in the
alloy.” This is a major step forward for ThyssenKrupp Titanium in the aerospace
industry, where all materials and parts are subjected to lengthy test phases.
Customers are also showing great interest. One of them is MTU Aero
Engines, a leading German manufacturer of jet engine components whose
products are to be found in one in three passenger aircraft, be they Airbus or
Boeing. The company is currently carrying out tests on the titanium alloy. In
parallel with this, the various steps such as heating and forming are being
examined by computer simulation at the RWTH technical university in Aachen.
Upon completion of the project, it will be possible to produce titanium forgings
using the new material in the near future. Kiese: “We’re pleased to be able to
contribute to making aircraft even safer, and we’re confident that there will be
a big market for the material.“ ---
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