The titanium and aluminum investment casting specialist TITAL GmbH presents its latest research innovation at the International Aviation Exhibition (ILA Berlin) from June 8 to 13 in Berlin. The innovation is a light and environmentally friendly turbine blade made from titanium-aluminide. During the past several months TITAL has increased its investments into research efforts in order to facilitate the future take-off of planes that are more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

TITAL Managing Director Philipp Schack: "We have to face the global eco-political challenges of our time. This is not only an opportunity for the creation of value in Germany as a location for industry to serve a more environmentally global air transportation market. But it is also a driving force for competition regarding new technologies. Climate protection means precautions for an economical and ecological development in the long-term."

The titanium-aluminide turbine blades have been produced through a partnership with Access, the affiliated institute of the RWTH Aachen. Recently TITAL and Access successfully developed a process to produce the light and heat resistant turbine blades from the intermetallic alloy Gamma TiAl. The components made from Gamma TiAl have a density of 4 g/cm? and are lighter than conventional titanium alloys with only half the weight of comparable special purpose steel. This weight savings contributes to substantial energy savings. Another advantage: Gamma TiAl is very heat resistant and is predestined for the production of jet engines. The alloy resists temperatures up to 850°C – compared to conventional alloys of 600°C.

Philipp Schack: „The turbine blades present a unique technological alternative to conventional turbine blades in the production of jet engines." TITAL is convinced that Gamma TiAl blades will be used in the latest generation of jet engine programs.

In 2008 with the start of operations of the new large titanium casting facility, TITAL GmbH is also able to produce large and heavy titanium aerospace components that weigh up to 300 kg (660 lbs) with dimensions of up to 1.500 mm (60") using the investment casting process. This process when compared to machining solid material is especially energy and cost efficient and is particularly advantageous regarding CO2-emissions.