Titanium aluminide stage 6 and 7 low pressure turbine blades.

Titanium aluminide, TiAl, is an intermetallic chemical compound.

Manufacturing of titanium aluminide turbine blades in 20 g is being explored by researchers at the European Space Agency (ESA).

Titanium aluminide has three major intermetallic compounds: gamma TiAl, alpha 2-TiAl and TiAl.

Researchers on the space plane are developing a lightweight skin of a titanium aluminide, an alloy that can withstand such heat and protect much of the outside of the plane.

The EBM process was recently developed for manufacturing parts in gamma titanium aluminide, and is currently used by Avio S.p.A. for the production of turbine blades in γ-TiAl for aero engines.

This required the development of high temperature lightweight materials, including alloys of titanium and aluminium known as gamma and alpha titanium aluminide, advanced carbon/carbon composites, and titanium metal matrix composite (TMC) with silicon carbide fibers.