RTI International Metals has secured a contract from Snecma to supply titanium aluminide alloy (TiAl) for use in the new CFM International’s leading-edge aviation propulsion (LEAP) engine.
Launched in 2008, the LEAP engine is designed to be equipped on the next-generation single-aisle commercial aircraft.
Under the contract, RTI will supply TiAl material for the LEAP engine low-pressure turbine blades, which are planned to be manufactured from 2016.
The new-generation TiAl alloy is said to endure very high temperatures, and significantly lower the weight of a low-pressure turbine blade over nickel-based alloy materials.
Snecma purchasing vice-president Etienne Galan said: "Our selection of RTI, known for providing innovative and reliable titanium alloy solutions, is a result of our close and ongoing collaboration.
"We are very pleased to welcome RTI to our supplier partner team which is committed to meeting the challenge of producing the technologically-advanced LEAP engine at the same record production rates as it predecessor, the CFM56, with 1,800 expected to be produced in 2019."
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By GlobalDataRTI vice-chair, president and CEO Dawne Hickton said: "Industrialising the TiAl alloy has been an area of focus of RTI’s advanced innovation and technology team for a number of years.
"We look forward to partnering with Snecma and other members of their supply-chain team to provide the operational efficiencies promised by the LEAP engine."
CFM International is a 50/50 joint venture of Snecma and GE.
The LEAP engine family comprises LEAP-1A, which is an option for the Airbus A320neo, the LEAP-1B for Boeing 737 MAX, and the LEAP-1C for the COMAC C919 airliners.
As of 30 June, these engines have logged 6,770 orders from operators worldwide.
Image: A LEAP engine variant. Photo: courtesy of Eric Drouin / Safran.
