Titanium alloys have a high tensile strength because of density ratio, high corrosion resistance, and ability to withstand moderately high temperatures without creeping. Because of these features, titanium alloys are used for aircraft development. This article, from Outlook Biz, highlights the research done by IRT Saint Exupery in which they assessed the potential use of the Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy in aerospace applications, specifically in relation to heat treatment and fatigue crack growth.
“Researchers from IRT Saint Exupery assessed the impact of microstructure on the fatigue crack growth resistance of αβ titanium alloys.“
A manufacturer of aerostructures for both commercial and defense headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, recently announced it is transitioning recent research breakthroughs—a new process that allows for more advanced production of titanium parts—from the laboratory to its factory.
Spirit AeroSystems developed The Joule Form™ process, a new proprietary method for forming titanium raw material at elevated temperatures in the fabrication of aerospace components. This method provides the company with a competitive advantage in the use of titanium, a highly desirable material thanks to its combination of strength and its light weightedness.
John Pilla, Spirit AeroSystems Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Quality Officer
“We are the first in the aerospace industry to use this high-tech solution,” said Spirit AeroSystems Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Quality Officer John Pilla. “The implementation of the Joule FormTM process allows for more advanced production of titanium parts, such as those on Spirit’s propulsion, fuselage and wing products. This approach offers a host of benefits that ultimately reduce costs and drive greater efficiencies.”
The Joule FormTM process allows Spirit to form parts out of titanium plates rather than relying on machining large blocks of titanium, significantly reducing waste and decreasing the amount of machining. The process was internally developed as part of one of Spirit’s key research focus areas, the Lean Metallic Structures Distinctive Capability.
Kevin Matthies, Spirit’s senior vice president of Global Fabrication
“This emerging manufacturing improvement can replace more expensive techniques,” said Kevin Matthies, Spirit’s senior vice president of Global Fabrication. “We want to build high-quality products in a cost-effective way. This is a great example of improving a process to better serve our customers.”
Joule Form™ technology can be used on aircraft components that are machined from plates or forgings, specifically on materials that are hard to machine and expensive to procure (like titanium and steel alloys). Spirit operates sites in the U.S., U.K., France and Malaysia. The company’s core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components for the world’s premier aircraft.
Frank Perryman, president and chief executive officer of Perryman Company
Perryman Company, a metal fabricator headquartered in Houston, Pennsylvania, recently announced it will more than double its current titanium melting capacity through the addition of two new furnaces, one electron beam (EB) and one vacuum arc remelt (VAR).
The integrated titanium producer from melting of ingot to finished products has existing melting facilities at its western Pennsylvania location which are utilized for projects in the commercial aircraft and medical sectors. The company expects the new furnaces to alleviate backlog and support demand for titanium products in these as well as other industrial, recreation, and infrastructure industries.
“Our aerospace forecast model indicates there will be a need for additional melting capacity. With the increased capacity we will be in position to pursue segments of the aerospace market where we have not yet been a participant. We believe there’s more opportunity for us to leverage our fully integrated capabilities,” stated Frank Perryman, president and chief executive officer of Perryman Company.
The added capacity will also support planned growth in medical, additive/3D and other emerging markets.
Installation of the new furnaces will begin in late 2018 and are expected to be fully operational by mid-2019. Once complete, the company’s total melt capacity will exceed 26 million pounds, placing Perryman among the world’s largest melters of aerospace quality titanium.
