Development of advanced manufacturing platform for high integrity forged components

Project aim

The aim of the project is to improve the ductility of titanium aluminide components.  By applying thermomechanical processing techniques, including heat treatments, hot isostatic pressing, and isothermal forging, the microstructure will be refined and controlled to produce high integrity titanium aluminide components.

Project background

There are ever-increasing demands on automotive and aerospace engine manufacturers to develop systems with improved efficiency and reduced environmental footprint. Advanced designs are based on higher service temperatures, lighter weight, and higher operating speeds. The conventional metallic systems currently in use have been developed over the last 50 years to near the limits of their capability.

If further advances are to be made, new classes of materials will be required. Intermetallics such as titanium aluminide offer these advantages with, currently, limited scope for applications. Now with industry acceptance, the material can be developed to optimise these properties via advanced manufacturing platforms such as FutureForge, at the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre.