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Breakthroughs in the new application of high-performance titanium alloy foil in aerospace vehicles

The breakthroughs in the new application of high-performance titanium alloy foil in aerospace vehicles are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

• Significantly improved high-temperature performance: The use of titanium-based intermetallic compound Ti2AlNb alloy foil material has increased the operating temperature of key components such as aerospace skins and rudder wings from the traditional 600℃ to 850℃, greatly expanding the application potential of titanium alloys in high-temperature environments.

• Development of high-strength and toughness damage-tolerant titanium alloys: my country has independently developed high-strength, high-toughness, and damage-tolerant titanium alloys such as TC4-DT and TC21, which have improved the safety and service life of aircraft structural parts and met the needs of modern aircraft design from static strength to damage tolerance design.

• Breakthrough in high-precision thin-walled structure manufacturing technology: The Fourth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has successfully achieved temperature-controlled spinning of high-strength and toughness titanium alloys and high-precision thin-walled cylinders, solving the technical bottleneck of difficult deformation of titanium alloys and promoting the lightweight manufacturing of complex structural parts such as engine casings.

• Application of ultra-high strength titanium alloy materials: A series of ultra-high strength titanium alloys with a strength of 1300MPa to 2000MPa (such as TB8, TB19, and TB20) have been developed to form a titanium alloy system for aerospace structures with Chinese characteristics, which significantly improves the strength and reliability of aircraft structures. • Multi-alloy systems and new material grades: Based on the traditional Ti-6Al-4V, Sn, Zr, Mo, Si and other elements are added to develop high-temperature titanium alloys such as Ti-6242S, IMI834, and Ti1100, as well as titanium alloy foils such as Ti-21Nb-14Al and Ti-24Al-14Nb-3V, which are used for missile tail fins, combustion chamber nozzle seals, and hypersonic aircraft thermal protection systems.

• Application of additive manufacturing technology: Laser additive manufacturing technology has broken through the difficulties of traditional titanium alloy processing, realized the manufacture of complex titanium alloy components, improved the mechanical properties and manufacturing flexibility of parts, and provided a new way for large integral structural parts of spacecraft.

• Localization and low-cost development: my country accelerates independent innovation and industrialization of titanium alloy materials, promotes the research and development of low-cost high-performance titanium alloys, reduces dependence on imports, and enhances the international competitiveness of aerospace titanium alloy materials.

In summary, the breakthroughs of high-performance titanium alloy foils in aerospace vehicles mainly lie in the significant improvement of high-temperature tolerance, the development of high-strength and high-toughness damage tolerance materials, the maturity of high-precision complex structural parts manufacturing technology, and the application of additive manufacturing technology. These advances have greatly promoted the development of lightweight, high-performance and high-reliability spacecraft.