TUBITAK Develops a Prototype Turbine Blade for the Engine of the Domestic Airplane
The first prototype production in Turkey of turbine blades, one of the most important parts of aircraft engines, was carried out at TUBITAK MAM Materials Institute...
TUBITAK Develops a Prototype Turbine Blade for the Engine of the Domestic Airplane
A single crystal turbine blade prototype was produced at the TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute, which fulfills its duty without any problems in temperatures reaching 1350 degrees Celsius in the aircraft engine.
The first prototype production in Turkey of turbine blades, one of the most important parts of aircraft engines, was carried out at TUBITAK MAM Materials Institute. Single crystal superalloy turbine blades are used in new generation jet engines because they can withstand, firstly, high temperatures, multidirectional forces, high speeds, and harsh environmental conditions for a long period of time. TÜBİTAK, which has worked to produce these parts in Turkey, completed the prototype production in the laboratory established at the Materials Institute. One of the most critical stages in the production of national aircraft will be overcome with the local production of turbine blades, which have the ability to function above a thousand degrees Celsius.
Director of TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute Prof. Dr. Metin Usta said that nickel-single crystal technologies must be especially acquired to advance in the field of aviation. Emphasizing that there is no possibility of using any other material in cases where mechanical properties such as friction and fatigue are witnessed, Usta said, "You have to use superalloys based on nickel and it has to be produced using the single crystal technology. Otherwise, there is no possibility of using any material at high temperatures and in places where mechanical properties are required."
Explaining that these are critical technologies and they cannot be purchased in cases such as embargoes, Usta said, "Based on this, infrastructure was created with the support of the Ministry of Development and the TÜBİTAK MAM's own means. We procured a vacuum induction furnace with the project funds, and with that nickel based single crystal turbine blades for aircraft were developed. This process was performed for the first time in Turkey. Our main goal is to produce the turbine blades of domestic aircraft ourselves, because it is a critical technology. Having this technology will take Turkey forward in aviation. It will be a great contribution to the domestic airplane."
Critical Materials Group Supervisor at TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute, Assoc. Dr. Havva Kazdal Zeytin noted that they have been working intensively for two years to establish the "High Temperature Materials Research, Development and Repair Center of Excellence" supported by the Ministry of Development. Stating that they first established the vacuum induction furnace (VIM) and the "High Temperature Test and Analysis Laboratory" at TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute with their own means, Zeytin said, "With this investment, our first trial castings were successful and we produced the prototype of the single crystal turbine blade. This is just the beginning, we have a long way to go from now on, but without infrastructure, it is not possible to produce aircraft turbine engine parts or turbine blades. You have to produce it from single crystal and superalloy to withstand high temperature for a long time. This is just the first phase. After that, we also need to carry out coating processes so that the aircraft engine produced can last for a long time at high temperatures. We aim to build the required infrastructure in the next 1-2 years. Then we will acquire all of the required technology. Within this scope, all the technological know-how produced in TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute will be transferred to the industry of our country for the benefit of the public."
"With This Project, We Will Prevent Large Amounts of Foreign Exchange Loss"
Stressing that this technology was not the first in the world but that it was the first in and very important for Turkey, Zeytin said "We have a very large foreign exchange deficit on this issue. Along with planes, our country also buys materials from abroad and these are very expensive materials. With this technology, we will prevent large amounts of foreign exchange loss. The other crucial aspect is that we will have our own aviation technology. You can build a plane, but if you do not produce the parts that make it up by yourself, this plane will not be local. Therefore, you also need to develop material technologies."
Noting that they have a project supported by the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries and have come to the signing stage with TEI and a private casting company and that this is the first project for aircraft engine production, Zeytin said, "Our infrastructure will be completed and when this infrastructure is completed, we will have produced the turbine blade of the engine to be installed on an aircraft and received approval for it." Emphasizing that the transfer of information in material technologies is very limited, Zeytin continued:
"We are trying to create this information with our own means and also with help. One of the turbine blades is around 30-40 thousand Euros. When we produce it locally, we will produce it with incomparable numbers. The most important advantage for us is that it is a critical technology and we can produce it when countries with this technology do not give it to us. The fact that it is a critical technology is much more important than its cost. When we are able to produce it by ourselves, many more areas will be open for us. Being able to produce is one of the most important steps of being free from dependency."
The first prototype production in Turkey of turbine blades, one of the most important parts of aircraft engines, was carried out at TUBITAK MAM Materials Institute. Single crystal superalloy turbine blades are used in new generation jet engines because they can withstand, firstly, high temperatures, multidirectional forces, high speeds, and harsh environmental conditions for a long period of time. TÜBİTAK, which has worked to produce these parts in Turkey, completed the prototype production in the laboratory established at the Materials Institute. One of the most critical stages in the production of national aircraft will be overcome with the local production of turbine blades, which have the ability to function above a thousand degrees Celsius.
Director of TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute Prof. Dr. Metin Usta said that nickel-single crystal technologies must be especially acquired to advance in the field of aviation. Emphasizing that there is no possibility of using any other material in cases where mechanical properties such as friction and fatigue are witnessed, Usta said, "You have to use superalloys based on nickel and it has to be produced using the single crystal technology. Otherwise, there is no possibility of using any material at high temperatures and in places where mechanical properties are required."
Explaining that these are critical technologies and they cannot be purchased in cases such as embargoes, Usta said, "Based on this, infrastructure was created with the support of the Ministry of Development and the TÜBİTAK MAM's own means. We procured a vacuum induction furnace with the project funds, and with that nickel based single crystal turbine blades for aircraft were developed. This process was performed for the first time in Turkey. Our main goal is to produce the turbine blades of domestic aircraft ourselves, because it is a critical technology. Having this technology will take Turkey forward in aviation. It will be a great contribution to the domestic airplane."
Critical Materials Group Supervisor at TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute, Assoc. Dr. Havva Kazdal Zeytin noted that they have been working intensively for two years to establish the "High Temperature Materials Research, Development and Repair Center of Excellence" supported by the Ministry of Development. Stating that they first established the vacuum induction furnace (VIM) and the "High Temperature Test and Analysis Laboratory" at TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute with their own means, Zeytin said, "With this investment, our first trial castings were successful and we produced the prototype of the single crystal turbine blade. This is just the beginning, we have a long way to go from now on, but without infrastructure, it is not possible to produce aircraft turbine engine parts or turbine blades. You have to produce it from single crystal and superalloy to withstand high temperature for a long time. This is just the first phase. After that, we also need to carry out coating processes so that the aircraft engine produced can last for a long time at high temperatures. We aim to build the required infrastructure in the next 1-2 years. Then we will acquire all of the required technology. Within this scope, all the technological know-how produced in TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute will be transferred to the industry of our country for the benefit of the public."
"With This Project, We Will Prevent Large Amounts of Foreign Exchange Loss"
Stressing that this technology was not the first in the world but that it was the first in and very important for Turkey, Zeytin said "We have a very large foreign exchange deficit on this issue. Along with planes, our country also buys materials from abroad and these are very expensive materials. With this technology, we will prevent large amounts of foreign exchange loss. The other crucial aspect is that we will have our own aviation technology. You can build a plane, but if you do not produce the parts that make it up by yourself, this plane will not be local. Therefore, you also need to develop material technologies."
Noting that they have a project supported by the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries and have come to the signing stage with TEI and a private casting company and that this is the first project for aircraft engine production, Zeytin said, "Our infrastructure will be completed and when this infrastructure is completed, we will have produced the turbine blade of the engine to be installed on an aircraft and received approval for it." Emphasizing that the transfer of information in material technologies is very limited, Zeytin continued:
"We are trying to create this information with our own means and also with help. One of the turbine blades is around 30-40 thousand Euros. When we produce it locally, we will produce it with incomparable numbers. The most important advantage for us is that it is a critical technology and we can produce it when countries with this technology do not give it to us. The fact that it is a critical technology is much more important than its cost. When we are able to produce it by ourselves, many more areas will be open for us. Being able to produce is one of the most important steps of being free from dependency."