The TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute has produced a prototype of a single crystal turbine blade that performs its task smoothly at temperatures reaching 1350 degrees Celsius in an aircraft engine.

The first prototype production of turbine blades, one of the most important parts of aircraft engines, was carried out at the TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute in Turkey. TUBITAK, which started to work on the production in Turkey of super alloy single crystal turbine blades used in new generation jet engines because they have the ability to withstand multi-directional forces, especially high temperature, high speed and difficult environmental conditions for a long time, realized the prototype production of the said part in the laboratory established at the Institute of Materials. With the transformation of the turbine blade, which has the ability to function at over a thousand degrees Celsius, into a domestic product, one of the most critical stages in the production of national aircraft will be overcome.

Prof. Dr. Metin Usta, Director of the TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute, said that it is necessary to have nickel-single crystal technologies in order to advance especially in the field of aviation. Emphasizing that it is necessary to have this technology because there is no possibility of using any material in situations where mechanical properties such as creep and fatigue are exposed, Usta said, "You have to use nickel-based superalloys and this must be produced using single crystal technology. Otherwise, there is no possibility of using any material at high temperatures and in places that require mechanical properties."

Explaining that these are critical technologies and if they are not owned, they cannot be purchased in cases such as embargoes, Usta said, "Based on this, an infrastructure was created with the support of the Ministry of Development and TÜBİTAK MAM's own means. With the support of the project, we bought a vacuum induction furnace and in this furnace, single crystal nickel-based turbine blades for airplanes were developed and this is a process that has been done for the first time in Turkey. Our main goal is to produce turbine blades for domestic airplanes because it is a critical technology. Having this technology will take Turkey further in aviation. It will make a great contribution especially to the domestic airplane."

TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute Critical Materials Group Supervisor Assoc. Prof. 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. In this context, Zeytin stated that they first established the vacuum induction furnace (VIM) and the "High Temperature Test and Analysis Laboratory" at the TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute with their own means,

"With this investment, our first test castings were successful and we produced a prototype of a single crystal turbine blade. This is just the beginning, we have a long way to go, 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 super alloy to withstand high temperatures for a long time. This is just the first stage. After that, we also need to carry out coating processes so that the aircraft engine you produce can withstand high temperatures for a long time. We aim to complete the infrastructure for this in the next 1-2 years. Then we will have the complete technology. In this context, all technological know-how produced at the TÜBİTAK MAM Materials Institute will be transferred to the industry of our country for the public benefit."

"With this project, we will prevent high amount of foreign currency loss"

Emphasizing that this technology is not the first of its kind in the world, but it is the first and very important for Turkey, Zeytin said, "We have a huge loss of foreign currency in this regard. Our country buys the aircraft and its materials from abroad and these are very expensive materials. With this technology, we will prevent a high amount of foreign currency loss. The other most important aspect is that we will have our own aviation technology. You can make an airplane, but if you don't produce the parts that make up the airplane yourself, the airplane you make will not be indigenous. Therefore, you also need to have material technologies."

Zeytin said that they have a project supported by the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries, which they have reached the signature stage with TEİ and a private casting company, and that this is the first project for the production of aircraft engines. "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 its approvals," he said. Emphasizing that the transfer of knowledge in material technologies is very limited, Zeytin continued his words as follows:

"We are trying to create this information with our own means and with help. Turbine blades cost around 30-40 thousand euros each. When we produce them domestically, we will produce them at incomparable prices. The most important benefit for us is that this is a critical technology and we will be able to produce it when the countries that have this technology do not provide it to us. Being a critical technology is much more important than its price. When we are able to produce it ourselves, our path will be open in every field. Being able to produce is one of the most important steps in getting rid of dependency."