Abstract:

This paper reviews the state-of-art and history of super alloys and casting turbine blades of aircraft engines in China for nearly three decades since 1956. During this time the material technologists and foundrymen have met the demands of aircraft engines with ever-developing cast-alloys and casting processes for turbine blades.Remarkable successes have been made in many fields such as cast rotor blades, ceramic core for hollow channel blades, dispersion-strengthening of Ni-base alloys, computer-based quality control etc.In the view of the prospective advanced gas turbines, the ceramic and refractory materials should be developed to meet the following requirements;1. Increased operating temperatures （1400 to 1600℃ for metallic structure）;2. Enhanced surface stability;3. Superior mechanical properties.However, in addition to developing the above-mentioned materials, super alloys will go on to serve in engine components at 550 to 1150℃ in the foreseeable future.Therefore, it is worth improving refractory metal moulds and vacuum die casting to produce the advanced super alloy blades instead of conventional casting processes.