Titanium alloys for aeronautics industry
Titanium alloys have many advantages such as good fracture, fatigue and corrosion resistance as well as superior strength at high temperatures. The disadvantage is that machining these alloys is expensive. The TIFAN (Manufacturing by SLM of Titanium FAN wheels. Comparison with a conventional manufacturing process) initiative investigated Selective Laser Melting (SLM) to construct a fan wheel from titanium alloy. SLM is a type of 3D printing technique specifically for metals. Conventionally, fan wheels are manufactured from stainless steel, which is much heavier than the titanium alloy alternative. Researchers found that the main advantage of the SLM method compared to the conventional methods was the reduced weight of the component. Even though the manufacturing of the part is associated with a greater environmental impact, the weight reduction ensures better operating efficiency. Researchers also found that the titanium alloy part had a very low surface roughness and thus showed good resistance to corrosion. Conversely, the flexibility under tension was not as good as the stainless steel part, and therefore thermal treatment is of utmost importance. Much of the raw material used in the manufacturing of the part can be recycled and reused. Titanium alloy parts can aid in a sustainable future since their production results in decreased waste and noise as well as improved operating efficiency.
Keywords
Fan wheel, TIFAN, titanium alloy, Selective Laser Melting (SLM), 3D printing, sustainable
