Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: NorthMountain

Single-crystal? Please elaborate.


33 posted on 04/17/2018 2:06:05 PM PDT by Zarro (It is time to end the Mueller Witch Hunt. End it now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies ]


To: Zarro

“Single-crystal” means the blade is cast rather than machined/forged, and cooled rapidly enough that the molten metal doesn’t have time to form a crystalline structure - the whole thing is one big metal crystal.


49 posted on 04/17/2018 2:12:29 PM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies ]

To: Zarro
I'm not a metallurgist ...

A normal cast or forged piece of metal is composed of numerous (nearly) microscopic crystals of the metal alloy. They're often called "grains", and the boundaries between the grains can tend to weaken the structure or be focal points for defects.

It is possible (and the technology isn't new) to form metal parts in complex shapes which are composed of a single crystalline structure. They have no grains and no grain boundaries. Consequently, they are structurally much stronger, and can therefore be much lighter, than conventional polycrystalline parts.

A common application of this technology is jet engine turbine blades.

I am not a metallurgist.

54 posted on 04/17/2018 2:13:42 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson