Cold gas for a hot issue

摘要

It is called Cold Gas Dynamic Spraying (CGDS)—and the University of Liverpool in the UK is busy developing its potential as a major contributor to reducing aircraft-engine-operating costs. Aircraft engine turbine blades are usually produced using expensive nickel-based superalloys. The material yields good performance, but presents difficult repair challenges using existing processing techniques; the very high temperatures needed to melt the metal particles can undermine the integrity and stability of the resulting deposition. Most worn components are put in storage. But CGDS could change all that, and Liverpool University, working with support from industry and the UK government, is now involved in a research program into the technique's role in manufacturing. Program Manager Matt Murphy said, "At present, we are concentrating on fundamental process development and generic materials engineering issues."