Question

In your first assignment as a new engineer at a large jet engine manufacturer, you are part of a team investigating a new generation of lightweight turbine engines for regional jet liners. In order to increase efficiencies and improve performance, lightweight materials with significant toughness are needed. However, the operating conditions include high temperatures and high stresses. Of the three categories of composites, which one would you select for further investigation in an engine inlet application where temperatures in the vicinity of 500°C are experienced?

1. polyethylene
2. metal matrix composite
3. iron-aluminide intermetallics
4. ceramic matrix composite
5. polymer matrix composite

Answer 1

From the given options first we have polyethylene, the meliting point of polyethylene is 115-135 degrees celsius so it is eliminated from the option to use polyethylene because it will not withstand 500 degrees celsius. Now second we have metal mateix composite have good thermal resistance and can take heavy loads by t they are very expensive and really tough to fabricate and also they are not light weight. Now coming to the third iron-aluminide intermettalics to have good thermal conductivity but they lack good toughness. Now the forth one is ceramic matrix composite these composite have very high thermal resistance and have high load wearing properties and can be used to manufacture turbine blades and also used in aerospace application, so its good to use ceramic matrix composite. And last option polymer matrix composite are lightweight and have good load wearing capacity but they cant withstand at temperatures like 500 degrees celsius they only can operate upto 316 degress celsius.