Modern aerospace turbine blades must operate at temperatures near to (and sometimes exceeding) the melting point of their base alloys, resist high-temperature oxidation and corrosion, and maintain their shape and properties under intense thermo-mechanical cycling. Modumetal is advancing the state of the art in nanolaminated turbine engine components which exceed the high temperature performance of conventional, homogeneous superalloys used in this application.
The performance advantages afforded by nanolamination are expected to provide a step-change in overall turbine blade performance, and will be achieved at a competitive cost, leveraging an existing manufacturing infrastructure. Based on Modumetal's discussions and proof-of-concept studies involving the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory, the USAF has indicated a real interest in Modumetal’s innovative fabrication techniques. In their own words, the Modumetal manufacturing process could enhance durability of components exposed to the extreme environments of a turbine engine (turbine blades and disks).
Modumetal anticipates that its nanolaminated superalloys will ultimately allow engine components to operate more predictably at higher temperature, thus affording advances in both safety and fuel efficiency.