Additive Manufacturing Pioneering Niobium Alloys for Aerospace

From Taniobis | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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Europe's ambitions in space are currently gaining momentum, bringing a crucial material increasingly into focus for the aerospace industry: niobium. Taniobis GmbH provides solutions for the growing demands of modern aerospace systems with niobium-based alloy powders.

Additive manufacturing enables high refinement and precision in the production of engine components.([Image: , Image: ] Taniobis)
Additive manufacturing enables high refinement and precision in the production of engine components.
([Image: , Image: ] Taniobis)

The demand for high-temperature materials in aerospace has risen sharply in recent years. Conventional nickel-based alloys, however, reach their limits in terms of mechanical stability at approximately 1922 °F. Niobium-based metal alloys are significantly superior to nickel-based alloys in this regard. Taniobis has been developing customized alloy powders based on niobium (Nb) for years, such as AMtrinsic C-103 and AMtrinsic FS-85, both of which are used in additive manufacturing. With the help of additive manufacturing, complex, geometry-optimized components can be produced from AMtrinsic alloy powders that are not or only barely feasible using conventional methods, such as engine nozzles, control segments, or satellite thrusters.

The production of heat-resistant components for aerospace systems imposes the highest demands on materials and manufacturing technology. This is precisely where Taniobis comes in. In close collaboration with relevant research institutions and international companies, the powders are continuously developed to actively shape the next advancements in aerospace technology.

From precise satellite propulsion systems to reusable carrier systems: Niobium alloys combine high-temperature stability with mechanical durability, providing the material foundation for new space missions.

Dr. Bahar Fayyazi

Withstanding Extreme Thermal Stresses

The importance of niobium alloys for these precise applications is also demonstrated by a recent NASA study. The Glenn Research Center, a NASA research facility in Cleveland, additively manufactured various niobium alloys, including C-103, FS-85, and Cb-752, and mechanically tested them at elevated temperatures. The result: FS-85 and Cb-752 showed higher mechanical strength and improved creep resistance at high temperatures compared to C-103. These findings emphasize the advantages of these less common niobium alloys and their potential for use in demanding aerospace environments, such as thermal protection components or thermally stressed areas of propulsion systems. "Our alloys for additive manufacturing were developed precisely for these challenging conditions," explains Dr. Bahar Fayyazi, Product Manager at Taniobis. "From precise satellite thrusters to reusable launch systems: niobium alloys combine high-temperature stability with mechanical resilience, providing the material foundation for new space missions."

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