7/29/2019 Ge Aviation to Use Ceramic Matrix Composites in Jet Engines

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NEWS

GE AVIATION TO USE CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES IN JET ENGINESG E Aviation (Evendale. Ohio) is takingthe unprecedented step of introduc-ing durable, lightweight compositecomponents, into the "hot section" of a jetengine- The GERolls-Royce Fighter EngineTeam's Fl 36 developmental engine for theloint Strike Fighter (ISF) contains third-stage, low-pressure turbine vanes madeby GE from ceramic matrix composites(CMC), which are capable of handling theextreme temperatures. The company saysthe work could lead to the first com mercialuse of CMCs in a jet engine's combustorand turbine areas when an FI36-poweredISF begins flight testing in 2010,

CMCs are typically made of silicon car-bide ceramic fibers and ceramic resin, andare further enhanced with p roprietary coat-ings. CMC development is a key initiativeat GE Aviation, and an enabling technol-ogy in several of GE's private and govern-ment-funded engine demonstrator pro-grams now underway, CMC componentsalso are a key feature of GE's eCore pro-gram, the cornerstone for the company'snext-gen era tion of jet engines for narrow-body regional and business ets becauseof their low mass and greater durabilityand heat resistance, compared to metals.These characteristics mean engines needless cooling air, which improves overallengine efficiency. GE Aviation producesCMC parts at its facility in Newark, Del.

GE Aviation and GE's Corporate Re-search Center have pu rsued CMC techn ol-ogy for more than 15 years. Several yearsago. GE Aviation ran a government dem-onstrator engine with a combustor linerand low-pressure turbine blades. "De-veloping new jet engine materials takesmany years of investment and commit-ment," said R obert S chafrik. GE Aviation'sgeneral manager of materials and processengineering "But the benefits can providea considerable competitive advantageCMCs are a new frontier that w ill raise thebar in jet engine performance."

Schafrik predicts CMC parts will popu-late many areas in the engine's hot section,including high- and low-pressure turbinevanes and blades, turbine shrouds, andcomb ustor liners. For example. CFM Inter-national, a 50/50 joint venture of Snecmaand GE, will run a Leap-X demonstratori.Mi;ine in 2010 with CMC components, inpursuit of technologies for next-genera-tion engines for narrow-body aircraft.

GE Aviation pioneered the use of com-)osites in the "cold section" of et enginesn 1995, introducing the first composite frontan blade (a carbon/epoxy construction) in itsJE90 engine, which powers the Boeing 777. Ints new GEnx engine, developed for the Boe-

ing 787, GE will use similar composite fanblades, and introduce a braided-fiber com-posite fan blade containment case. Bothwill provide dramatic weight savings. CMCcombustor liners are under considerationfor future GEnx production models.

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