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Why is titanium metal suitable as an engine material?

For countries around the world, aviation research and manufacturing industry is a systematic engineering that often involves numerous industries and fields. Especially in the military industry, a fighter jet is composed of a massive system of components, with the engine being the most critical. In the core technological process of engine research and production, materials are a prerequisite. In recent years, the concept of titanium alloy as an engine material has become a global consensus. With the continuous improvement of independent research and development technology in China, Chinese researchers have also begun to realize the development and utilization of this high-tech material. It is worth mentioning that as a resource rich country, China itself has abundant titanium metal deposits. With the continuous improvement and upgrading of titanium alloy technology, including the J-20, many new fighter jets in China are expected to be retrofitted with titanium alloy engines in the future to further improve their performance level.
Why is titanium metal suitable as an engine material? Firstly, in terms of its characteristics, the high strength of titanium metal is unique among many metal elements, far exceeding common aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, stainless steel, etc. At the same time, it can maintain long-term stable operation in high temperature environments of 450-500 ℃, and also has comprehensive advantages such as good corrosion resistance, good low-temperature performance, high chemical activity, low thermal conductivity, and low elastic modulus. It can be said to be the most suitable manufacturing material for aircraft engines. Data shows that three-quarters of the titanium alloy materials currently produced globally are used in the aerospace industry.
As is well known, with the continuous advancement of aviation research and development technology, the requirements for engines in the first generation of aircraft, whether civilian or military, are becoming increasingly high. Especially the key performance factor - thrust to weight ratio, has become a standard performance indicator for an advanced aircraft. From the early jet era when the thrust to weight ratio was generally only 2 to 3, to today's supersonic era where the thrust to weight ratio reaches over 10, it is thanks to the continuous upgrading of materials in modern aviation engines. From the perspective of aviation theory, reducing the weight of an engine is the key way to improve its thrust to weight ratio. Due to its density being only 40% that of steel, titanium has the same strength and a melting point of up to 1668 ℃, making it an ideal high-temperature metal material for manufacturing aircraft engines.
China has always been catching up with European and American powers in independent engine research and development. Especially in the exploration and research of high-temperature resistant titanium alloy materials, the gap between China and other countries has gradually narrowed. Previously, using titanium alloy as the material, Chinese research teams have successively developed various aviation engine materials such as TC-4, TC-11, TC-14, etc. Especially in the 1990s, the emergence of TA-12 titanium alloy, which can withstand high temperatures of 550 ℃, laid a solid foundation for the subsequent development of domestically produced fourth generation fighter jets.

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