Why do wide-body turbofan engines use large amounts of titanium?
Wide-body turbofan engines rely heavily on titanium because of its exceptional combination of high strength and low density, which provides the most efficient strength-to-weight ratio of common metals at temperatures up to 600 °C (1,100 °F). These properties are essential for the development of the large high-bypass engines used on modern commercial airliners, which are composed of more than 25 percent titanium by weight.12
In these engines, titanium alloys are primarily utilized in the fan and compressor sections. Specific components manufactured from these alloys include:1
- Inlet cases1
- Compressor blades, disks, and hubs1
- Spacers and seals1
The use of titanium in these areas allows for significant weight reduction while maintaining the structural integrity required to withstand the mechanical stresses of engine operation. While other materials like nickel-based superalloys are used in the turbine section due to their resistance to even higher temperatures, titanium remains the material of choice for the cooler, high-stress components of the fan and compressor.123