Super-Plastic Forming

Heat shield crusader Superplastic Forming (SPF) Superplastic forming is a process designed for sheet material allowing elongation of several hundred percent. Materials most commonly associated with SPF Aluminum alloys: 5083, 7475 Titanium alloys: TA6V Alloys: INCONEL 718 Two-phase stainless: URANUS45N Superplastic Forming/Diffusion Bonding (SPF/DB) Diffusion bonding is a technique where, after heating, the materials are brought into contact under pressure for a certain amount of time. The process allows bonding of homogeneous or heterogeneous materials. Hence, structures can be manufactured from two, three or four metal sheets Hot Forming Process This technique is derived from the SPF forming process and features the advantage of being used for conventional aluminum alloys. The elongation values, while less then those of the SPF process, may be as high as 100 to 150%. Interest and advantages of SPF and SPF/DB The benefits of SPF increases with the complexity of the parts to be made Compared with conventional technologies, SPF offers cost savings in the range of 20-30% Nose center cover Typical SPF applications Titanium alloys Civil aircraft Hot parts around engines or handling hot air: pylon panels, nacelle panels, piping components... Jet engine components: air intake, compressor ducts... Military aircraft Hot parts around engines: heat shields... Aluminum alloys Civil aircraft Railway coaches Complex shape parts: window frames, seat structures, ventilation ducts, underground front face panels... Architectural building panels Others Refractory materials Inconel like INCO 718
Typical SPF/DB applications Titanium alloys Civil aircraft Hot parts around engines or handling hot air: pylon panels, nacelle panels, wing access panels… Jet engine components: fan blades... Military aircraft Hot parts around engines: heat shields... High-loaded aerodynamic parts: leading edges, foreplanes
Sensor housing	Fan blade section