Manufacturing Titanium and Al-Li Alloy Cryogenic Tanks

Abstract

This study presents manufacturing cryogenic tanks for aerospace applications. Since most high strength aerospace alloys like titanium alloys and Al-Li alloys exhibit low formability due to low ductility and work hardening, superplastic forming technology is applied to manufacture hemispherical shapes. Superplasticity is the ability of materials to deform plastically to show very large amount of strains. Advantages of superplastic forming technology include its design flexibility, low tooling cost and short leading time to produce. In this study, various manufacturing processes, like superplastic forming, diffusion bonding, laser beam welding and friction stir welding, are applied to manufacture titanium and aluminum cryogenic tanks. Using these technologies in manufacturing process makes the aerospace components lighter and stiffer, with efficient energy and cost saving.