Titanium is widely used in aerospace
Titanium alloy is one of the main structural materials used in aircraft and engines. It is mainly used in aircraft landing gear parts, fuselage beams, frames and fasteners, engine fans, compressors, blades, drums, casing, shafts, and helicopter propeller hubs and connectors.
Why titanium alloy is widely used in aerospace field
First, reduce the weight of the structure.
Advanced technical performance requires military aircraft to have a relatively low structural weight coefficient (i.e., structural weight of the airframe/normal takeoff weight of the aircraft), and advanced aeroengines require a higher thrust-to-weight ratio. Titanium alloy has the characteristics of high strength and low density, which can greatly reduce the structural weight and improve the structural efficiency.
Second, high temperature resistance.
Titanium alloy has good heat resistance. Such as commonly used Ti-6A-4V can work at 350℃ for a long time, so in the high temperature parts of the aircraft (such as the rear fuselage, etc.) can replace the use of high temperature performance can not meet the requirements of aluminum alloy, BT9 can work at 500℃ for a long time. Superalloy and stainless steel can be replaced in the compressor part of the engine.
Third, titanium alloy and composite material matching.
In order to reduce structural weight and meet the requirements of stealth, advanced aircraft use a large number of composite materials. The strength and stiffness of titanium alloy and composite material are well matched, and good weight reduction effect can be obtained. At the same time, it is not easy to produce galvanic corrosion because of their close potential. Therefore, the corresponding parts of the structural parts and fasteners should use titanium alloy.
Fourth, high corrosion resistance, long life.
Titanium alloys have high fatigue life and excellent corrosion resistance. It can improve the corrosion resistance and service life of the structure and meet the requirements of high reliability and long service life of advanced aircraft and engines.
Titanium for military aviation is a big market
Due to the irreplaceable role of titanium alloy in aerospace, since the end of the 1960s, the amount of titanium used in military aircraft has been increasing year by year. At present, the amount of titanium alloy in various advanced fighters and bombers designed by Europe and the United States has stabilized at more than 20%.
Mainstream airliners use up to 15% titanium
Reducing aircraft weight, increasing carrying capacity and reducing fuel consumption is an important basis for airlines to choose aircraft. Improving titanium material consumption is of great significance for the development of future civil airliners. According to data from the two major international aircraft manufacturers, the amount of titanium used in major Boeing and Airbus aircraft is gradually increasing. Among them, the passenger jet B787 titanium consumption is the highest, reaching 15.0%.
