PM Gamma Titanium Aluminide and Fabrication Techniques

A γ titanium aluminide alloy produced by a powder-metal (PM) process, and techniques for fabricating sheets and sheet-metal components from the alloy, have been developed. The alloy and techniques, used together, are expected to satisfy a need for relatively economical manufacture of lightweight, high-temperature-resistant components of propulsion systems, control surfaces, and general structures of advanced aircraft and spacecraft. The specific strength of the alloy is similar to the specific strengths of superalloys, while its specific stiffness is greater and its density is smaller. For applications in the temperature range of 500 to 800 °C, this alloy can be used in place of superalloys, thereby making it possible to reduce weights of components by as much as 50 percent.