Beta-Stabilized Titanium Alloy for Thick-Section Fatigue Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current titanium alloys used in gas turbine engines, such as Ti-64, have limited thick section strength and high-cycle fatigue capability, especially at low A ratios, and are prone to deformation during foreign object damage (FOD), while alloys like Ti-17 and Ti-6246 offer better strength and temperature resistance but are more expensive and difficult to manufacture and weld.
Innovation Solution
A new titanium alloy composition with 5-8 wt% aluminum, 2.5-5.5 wt% vanadium, 0.1-2 wt% iron or molybdenum, 0.01-0.2 wt% carbon, and up to 0.3 wt% oxygen or nitrogen, along with silicon and copper, is developed to maintain the isotropic properties and low cost of Ti-64 while enhancing thick section strength and fatigue resistance, utilizing a beta transus temperature and titanium silicide solvus temperature processing to refine microstructure and improve manufacturing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If Ti-64 alloy is used for gas turbine components, then the alloy has good manufacturability, low cost, and isotropic properties, but it has limited thick section strength and high-cycle fatigue capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of Ti-64 by adding specific amounts of beta-stabilizing elements (Fe: 0.05-2.0 wt%, Mo: 0.05-2.0 wt%, Cu: 0.05-2.0 wt%, Si: 0.05-2.0 wt%) to change the material's microstructure and improve thick section strength while preserving manufacturability and isotropic properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite alloy system by combining Ti-64 base alloy with multiple beta-stabilizing elements that work synergistically to enhance thick section strength, high-cycle fatigue capability, and temperature resistance while maintaining the base alloy's advantageous properties
2Strength
If Ti-17 or Ti-6246 alloy is used for gas turbine components, then the alloy has good thick section strength and temperature resistance, but it is more expensive and difficult to manufacture and weld
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beta-stabilizing elements locally to the Ti-64 alloy system to achieve localized microstructure control that improves thick section strength and temperature resistance only where needed, rather than completely transitioning to beta-processed alloys like Ti-17 or Ti-6246
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the alloy composition parameters by adding controlled amounts of beta-stabilizing elements to Ti-64, creating a new alloy variant that achieves the strength and temperature resistance of Ti-17/Ti-6246 while retaining the manufacturability and weldability of Ti-64
3Ease of manufacture
If Ti-64 alloy is used for gas turbine components, then the alloy has low cost and good manufacturability, but it deforms to a relatively high degree during foreign object damage (FOD)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the mechanical properties parameters of Ti-64 by adding beta-stabilizing elements that increase the alloy's strength and hardness, thereby reducing deformation during FOD events while preserving the base alloy's manufacturability and cost advantages
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The new alloy achieves improved thick section strength, high-cycle fatigue capability, and reduced deformation during FOD, while minimizing costs by utilizing a high percentage of recycled Ti-64 materials and maintaining the alloy's manufacturability and weldability, thus optimizing performance and cost in gas turbine components.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a beta transus temperature and titanium silicide solvus temperature processing to refine microstructure and improve manufacturing efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A composition of matter is generally provided, in one embodiment, a titanium alloy comprising about 5 wt % to about 8 wt % aluminum; about 2.5 wt % to about 5.5 wt % vanadium; about 0.1 wt % to about 2 wt % of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of iron and molybdenum; about 0.01 wt % to about 0.2 wt % carbon; up to about 0.3 wt % oxygen; silicon and copper; and titanium. A turbine component is also generally provided, in one embodiment, that comprises an article made from a titanium alloy. Additionally, methods are also generally provided for making an alloy component having a beta transus temperature and a titanium silicide solvus temperature.