METHODS of manufacture and materials used for turbine blades, buckets, and vanes are described in this paper.
Precision forging of these turbine parts is the preferred method. Other manufacturing techniques discussed here include the lost-wax, frozen-mercury, and lost-plastic processes and sintered powder metallurgy, casting, and fabrication. Use of specially designed equipment has resulted in vast improvements in some operations.
The paper discusses such new material developments as reinforced plastics, cermets, and titanium in addition to listing the standard alloys used for turbine buckets, blades, and vanes. A description of current British practices is also included.