Can a superalloy method fix aircraft engine woes, even for sixth-gen fighters?

Chinese researchers working on a new superalloy processing technique say their lab results suggest it could be used to build stronger and longer-lasting aircraft engines, according to state media.

Superalloy turbine discs are a core component of aircraft engines and the new technique to cool down the metal alloy faster during manufacturing could significantly improve performance, the official Science and Technology Daily reported on Friday.

It said the new technology had the potential to be used in the engines powering the country’s new sixth-generation fighter jets.

With at least two of these next-gen fighter jets currently under development, there is an urgent need to develop advanced, high-performance aircraft engines – an area where China has lagged behind the West.

To do this, the team at Dalian University of Technology in northeast China tackled a key challenge in the manufacturing process: finding a way to rapidly cool the forged turbine discs made of superalloy.

These discs are among the heaviest and most technically demanding parts of an aircraft engine. Their quality and durability has long been an obstacle for the industry since this determines the engine’s power, efficiency and lifespan.

In an aircraft engine, the turbine discs are the base on which turbine blades are mounted. The discs convert the thermal energy generated by fuel combustion into the rotational force needed to propel the aircraft.

That means the superalloy the discs are made from must be able to withstand extreme temperatures, high pressure and high rotational speeds.

  

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