The future of gammalloy technology will depend on whether or not or how we can develop or design gammalloy materials–processes–microstructure combinations yielding greater service temperature (750–900☌) capability for specific aero-engine applications and greater producibility–reliability for ground vehicle engine component applications. The first commercial application of gammalloy exhaust valves eventually took place with a near-alpha extruded and head-forged form of alloy 02B (Ti-44Al-6Nb-0.3W-0.1B) 11 in 2013 for race vehicle (F-1 and Moto GP) engines 12 where the operating temperatures are over 800☌.ĭespite the exciting developments, their ongoing application expansion activities 13, 14 and new applications 4, 6 have shown that their respective temperature capabilities for aero-engine applications have remained unchanged ever since.

7, 8Ĭast gammalloys (Ti-46/47Al-3/6Nb base) began to be used for automotive engine turbocharger wheels first at 850☌ (1999) and then at gradually increased gas temperatures up to 1000☌ (2011): 9, 10 This enhancement has been possible because of less stringent requirements in property balances, however with slow adoptions due to the reliability and cost issues. That was 2 years after the first flight of B787 with GEnx engines, approximately 8 years after their successful implementation in GEnx engines, 17 years after the first certification for CFM CF6 engines, approximately 24 years after the development of alloy 4822 at GE and nearly 40 years after the first gammalloy exploration program initiated at AF Materials Laboratory and conducted by P&W. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, – 6 The first commercial flights of gammalloy LPTBs took place in March, 2012 when Japan Airlines received purchased Boeing 787 Dreamliners powered by GEnx-1B engines equipped with alloy 4822 LPTBs on the last two LPT stages. The finally realized implementations of current engineering gammalloy materials (cast 4822, cast 45XD and wrought TNM) as aero-engine low-pressure turbine blades (LPTB) for intermediate service temperatures (up to 750☌) began to establish the foundations of their respective materials–processes–manufacturing technologies.

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