An Innovative Way to Produce γ-TiAl Blades: Spark Plasma Sintering

Thomas Voisin (1) , Jean-Philippe Monchoux (1) , Lise Durand (1) , Nikhil Karnatak (2) , Marc Thomas (3) , Alain Couret (1)

1 CEMES - Centre d'élaboration de matériaux et d'études structurales
2 Mecachrome
3 ONERA - The French Aerospace Lab [Châtillon]

A study is conducted to show that the production of turbine blades in γ-TiAl alloys through spark plasma sintering (SPS) is a viable manufacturing route, by demonstrating that near-net shaping of γ-TiAl blades is successful, and by developing an alloy with balanced and outstanding mechanical properties at room and high temperatures in a single run and without subsequent thermal treatments. It is demonstrated that replacing nickel-based superalloys by such Intermetallic γ-TiAl alloys with high specific modulus and mechanical strength, combined with an exceptional resistance to oxidation, is an effective contribution to the development of lighter aircraft engines with high performance. Casting processes such as centrifugal cast have demonstrated that sound TiAl parts with a complex shape such as low-pressure turbine blades can be achieved.

Mots clés: Aircraft engines; Fighter aircraft; Sintering; Spark plasma sintering; Superalloys; Titanium compounds; Turbine components; Turbines; Turbomachine blades; Casting process; Complex shapes; Gamma tial alloys; Low pressure turbine blade; Nickel- based superalloys; Room and high temperatures; Specific modulus; Turbine blade; Titanium alloys

Domaines: Physique [physics]

Thomas Voisin, Jean-Philippe Monchoux, Lise Durand, Nikhil Karnatak, Marc Thomas, et al.. An Innovative Way to Produce γ-TiAl Blades: Spark Plasma Sintering. Advanced Engineering Materials, 2015, 17 (10), pp.1408-1413. ⟨10.1002/adem.201500019⟩. ⟨hal-01726307⟩