DRDO Develops Titanium Alloy for Making Lighter Aircrafts

Titanium Alloy combining Vanadium, Iron, and Aluminum, Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al

On a production scale, the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has produced a High Strength Metastable Beta Titanium Alloy combining Vanadium, Iron, and Aluminum, Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al, for use in aerospace structural forgings. 

Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), a leading DRDO laboratory in Hyderabad, created it. Many wealthy countries have recently begun to adopt these alloys as a weight-saving alternative to standard Ni-Cr-Mo structural steels.

The outstanding enforceability of the Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al alloy, which has a high strength-to-weight ratio, allows for the production of finely designed components for aerospace applications with the potential for considerable weight reductions. Slat/flap tracks, landing gear, and landing gear drop links are just a few of the components that could be fashioned from this alloy.

Because of their increased strength, ductility, fatigue resistance, and fracture toughness, high strength beta titanium alloys are becoming increasingly popular for aircraft structural applications. Furthermore, due to greater corrosion resistance in contrast to steels, their comparatively lower lifetime cost is an appropriate trade-off to justify the usage of this pricey material in India as well.

In conjunction with many agencies, the DMRL has performed the raw material selection, alloy melting, thermo-mechanical processing, ultrasonics-based Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE), heat treatment, mechanical characterization, and type certification.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has identified over 15 steel components that might be replaced in the near future using Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al alloy forgings, potentially saving up to 40% in weight. The landing gear drop link is the first component successfully forged by ADA at HAL, Bengaluru, with the help of DMRL, and approved for airworthiness.

The Hon'ble Defence Minister of India Shri Rajnath Singh praised the DRDO and the industry for developing a high-strength metastable beta titanium alloy that can be used in aircraft structural forgings.