TiAl intermetallic compound is the only light metal material that can be used for a long time in an oxidizing environment above 600℃. Its theoretical density is only 3.9g/cm3, which is less than 1/2 of the nickel-based superalloy. It is useful for reducing the weight of aerospace parts. ,has great significance.
In recent years, Avio Aero, a subsidiary of General Electric, has successfully mass-produced GE9X engine low-pressure turbine blades using high-quality Ti4822 titanium aluminum powder material and electron beam melting (EBM) 3D printing technology. This is the world’s leading aeroengine and aviation material research field. A great pioneering work, with great leading significance. The TiAl alloy blade is about 50% lighter than the traditional nickel-based alloy, has a more excellent strength-to-weight ratio, reduces the weight of the entire low-pressure turbine by 20%, and increases the thrust of the GE9X by 10%. Among them, the company adopted the crucible-free electrode induction gas atomization (EIGA) technology to manufacture ultra-high purity spherical 3D printed Ti4822 powder material, which is the first condition for the success of the project.
Technology leads innovation breakthrough
TiAl intermetallic compound is the only lightweight metal material in the world that can be used for a long time in an oxidizing environment above 600℃. Its theoretical density is only 3.9g/cm3, which is less than 1/2 of the nickel-based superalloy. Weight reduction is of great significance and is an important national strategic material. Europe and the United States strictly restrict exports to my country. It is particularly important for China to independently develop high-quality spherical TiAl powder material preparation and electron beam (EBM) 3D printing technology research.
China`s leading manufacturer of 3D printing alloy powders in the aerospace industry, the ZHMT scientific research team has adopted a self-developed crucible-free electrode induction device to melt TiAl alloy bars and The supersonic gas atomization nozzle prepares spherical TiAl alloy powder, realizes the pure smelting of TiAl alloy without crucible, and develops TiAl alloy powder products with high purity and high sphericity, which effectively avoids the water-cooled copper crucible induction melting gas atomization process. Contamination of TiAl alloy by tube ceramic material.
Topography of Ti4822 titanium aluminum powder
ZHMT has developed more than 15 tons of Ti4822 alloy powder products using this powdering process technology. The powder has high purity, good sphericity, stable and reliable batch quality, which effectively guarantees my country's commercial aviation engine electron beam (EBM) 3D printing blades. Urgent need for research and development. At the beginning of 2021, ZHMT has won orders for 3D printing TiAl powder products from important Chinese aviation users.
In 2020, ZHMT, together with Nanjing University of Science and Technology and other high-level scientific research institutions in China, undertook the provincial key research and development program "Key technologies for preparing high-performance TiAl alloy powder materials for additive manufacturing". The scientific research team found that Ti4822 titanium aluminum powder is of good quality. After electron beam melting (EBM) printing and forming, it has excellent room temperature and high temperature mechanical properties, which meets the technical requirements of aero engine low pressure turbine titanium aluminum blades.
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