Rolls-Royce and Japanese materials institute join forces to develop superalloys

Citation

(2006), "Rolls-Royce and Japanese materials institute join forces to develop superalloys", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2006.12778fab.025

Rolls-Royce and Japanese materials institute join forces to develop superalloys

Rolls-Royce and Japanese materials institute join forces to develop superalloys

Keywords: Superalloys, Automotive industry, Japan

Rolls-Royce recently launched a multi- year agreement with Japan's National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) to undertake research programmes into the development of high-temperature superalloys for use in gas turbine engines.

The agreement brings into being the Rolls-Royce Centre of Excellence for Aerospace Materials, which is based at NIMS' Sengen site in Tsukuba, north of Tokyo. It was celebrated by an opening at Tsukuba, followed by a reception in Tokyo.

It is the first scientific research programme the company has directly funded in Japan, although Rolls-Royce has significant and long-standing links with Japan in terms of product development, supply arrangements, as a market for products in the company's aerospace, marine and energy sectors, and as a participant in previous JAXA research programmes.

Both competitive and environmental benefits result from increasing the temperature capabilities of materials operating in the hottest parts of a gas turbine to improve fuel efficiency, which in turn reduces the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Relatively small rises in temperature capability can bring quite large gains in fuel efficiency, so the recent agreement – which will see Rolls-Royce invest funds annually over an initial five-year period – represents an important step in the global challenge of achieving environmental benefits and specific targets for aero engines' CO2 emissions.

The respective project co-ordinators of the new Centre of Excellence are Dr Mike Hicks, Rolls-Royce Chief Technologist, Materials, and Dr Hiroshi Harada, Managing Director – High Temperature Material Center at NIMS. Working arrangements will closely follow those of the network of Rolls-Royce University Technology Centres (UTCs) that each undertake a range of projects for Rolls-Royce in targeted technical areas and operate on a long-term “rolling” horizon of five years.

Rolls-Royce has worked with NIMS for around 15 years, during which time they also collaborated with existing Rolls-Royce UTCs. This is expected to continue during future work programmes – with Cambridge University, experienced in the physics of blade alloys, Birmingham University, which studies the castability of materials, and Cranfield University that focuses on coatings developments.

It is also expected that the relationship will promote considerable opportunities for academic exchange between Japan and the UK.

Ric Parker, who is Rolls-Royce Director of Research and Technology said: “This model of collaborative research at a global level has proved it can bring technologies to market more quickly. We have strong research links on just about every continent, and today's agreement marks a vital step towards superalloy developments that will enhance our future environmental and competitive position.”

“Materials can be a discriminator in our industry, so this is a vital programme for us. NIMS has an impressive record in developing high- class single-crystal superalloys; they led the way with earlier generation materials, and we look forward to working with them on sixth generation nickel-based alloys, and in investigating radically new alloys that may offer the potential for step-change temperature capability.”

Professor Teruo Kishi, who is NIMS' President, said: “This collaboration is very important for two reasons. This research achievement is going to be successfully transferred to industry, and this is the first example of collaboration with an overseas company. In addition, NIMS is grateful that this collaboration is an epoch-making event during the 50th anniversary of NIMS since the former NRIM was established in 1956.”

Certain technical properties have already been targeted as part of the agreement, which will involve seeking materials with significantly improved fatigue and creep capabilities at higher temperatures.