Single Crystal Blades Technology:
Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed single-crystal blades technology and supplied 60 of these blades to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as part of their indigenous helicopter development program for helicopter engine application.
- It is part of a program taken up by Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), a premium laboratory of DRDO, to develop five sets (300 in number) of the single-crystal high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades using a nickel-based superalloy.
- Helicopters used in strategic and defense applications need compact and powerful aero engines for their reliable operation in extreme conditions.
- To achieve this, state-of-the-art Single Crystal Blades having complex shapes and geometry, manufactured out of Nickel-based superalloys capable of withstanding high temperatures of operation are used.
- Very few countries in the world such as the USA, UK, France, and Russia have the capability to design and manufacture such Single Crystal (SX) components.
- The special ceramic composition had to be formulated for making strong ceramic molds that can withstand metallostatic pressure of liquid CMSX-4 alloy at 1500°C and above during casting operation.
