Page 56 - World Airnews Magazine June 2020 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

3D PRINTING TITANIUM

In Aerospace Manufacturing Applications

By Sarah Moore

CUTTING AVIATION EMISSIONS WITH LIGHTWEIGHT
AIRCRAFT
Titanium super alloys are highly beneficial to the aerospace Over the past few years, the cost of implementing AM has
industry, helping companies to reduce their carbon footprint by significantly reduced, with 3D printers costing roughly (US) $50,000
making planes more fuel-efficient. 3D printing of components just several years ago, to being available for around (US) $1,800.
constructed from titanium super alloys has become popular in this Aerospace is under increasing pressure to reduce fuel use to
sector for its convenience, speed, and production of lightweight cut costs and reduce its carbon footprint. Each long-haul flight
components. generally produces more carbon emissions than a person is likely
A recent partnership between Titomic and Ascent Aerospace to cause in an entire year.
is likely to further drive 3D printing of titanium in the aerospace Air travel is increasingly popular, with a 300% growth from 1990
industry. to 2019. With the world scrambling to reduce emissions in a bid to
Additive manufacturing (AM) has moved on from producing reverse the detrimental impact of climate change, the industry is
expensive, one-off prototypes to being adopted to revolutionize looking for innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
entire industries, changing the way their essential products are Reducing the weight of the aircraft is an essential strategy for
manufactured. One of the largest adopters of AM is the aerospace making flying more fuel-efficient, as lighter planes require less
industry. Both sectors are being driven by innovation, with fuel to carry them the same distance. Therefore, research into
developments feeding into each other. developing lightweight materials that work just as well or better
than current materials has been a focus of
technological development in aircraft design.
Titanium super alloys offer the aviation
industry an excellent opportunity to reduce
the weight of critical components. The material
is highly resistant to corrosion, has superior
strength to weight ratio, and performs well
at extremely high temperatures, making it
suitable for use in creating parts for planes.
As a result of switching components of
aircraft to those made from titanium, the
weight of the craft is lighter, making it more
fuel-efficient. Companies in both the aviation
and space sectors are shifting from using
aluminium alloys to manufacturing aircraft and
spacecraft components from titanium alloys.

SWITCHING TO TITANIUM IN AEROSPACE
MANUFACTURING
Using titanium in place of conventional
materials has proven to significantly reduce
the weight of crucial aircraft components. For
example, the average turbine for a jumbo jet
weighs roughly 6350 kg. However, the same
engine constructed in part from titanium
weighs around 340 kg less.
Rolls-Royce has been exploring the potential
of using titanium in fan blades and fan cases to
reduce the weight of their engines.
The chief engineer at UTC Aerospace
Systems, Geoff Hunt, has reported that the
weight of the landing gear can be reduced by
thousands of kilograms by switching to lighter
metal alloys such as titanium.

3D PRINTING IN THE AEROSPACE

World Airnews | June Extra 2020
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