Rostec Developed a New Alloy for Helicopter Engines

Rostec Developed a New Alloy for Helicopter Engines

Photo by: Alexander Utkin

Saint Petersburg enterprise UEC-Klimov, an affiliate of the United Engine Corporation (a part of the Rostec State Corporation), uses a new high strength nickel alloy in the design of a prospective helicopter engine (MPE) to significantly increase the useful life of Russian helicopters in the future.

Granular nickel alloy VV725P with an increased content of carbon has been developed by the scientists of the All-Russian Institute of Light Alloys (VILS, an affiliate of Rostec). As expected, the test batch of this material will be supplied for tests in the second half of 2018. After confiming the positive test results, it will be submitted for certification to the All-Russian Institute of Aviation Materials.

The newly developed alloy is characterised by high strength properties due to a higher carbon content (up to 0.12%). Traditionally, carbon content in such materials does not exceed 0.04% as higher concentration makes the metal brittle. But inclusion of such materials as hafnium and tantalum into the composition of the alloy helped to solve the issue. As a result, the strength properties of the alloy, its durability and refractory qualities have significantly increased. The new material will enhance the long-term strength of aircraft engines' components by 8%.

"The wide application of the new materials is an integral part of the future aviation strategy. Composite materials and new alloys that withstand higher operational loads and leave behind the traditional materials in terms of strength play an important role in the development of advanced aviation equipment. They guarantee higher reliability of parts and units, higher speed performance and manoeuvre capability of newly built helicopters and aircrafts," noted Anatoliy Serdyukov, Industrial Director of the Rostec's Aviation Cluster.