Materials Science Forum, Vol.357-3, 527-532, 2001
Industrial superplastic forming research and application for commercial aircraft components at Israel Aircraft Industries
After research and development of SPF process we turned to a serial production process in Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). The SPF technology is highly sophisticated and used extensively for commercial and military aircraft components. It is an ideal manufacturing process for complex shaped parts. This paper outlines our research of the SPF technology and the application of this method in the field of shaped parts productions. The main opportunity to use the SPF technology arouse from the needs of a new technology in producing complex-shaped parts for the new model of IAI aircraft "Galaxy". The application of SPF technology can diminish the manufacturing cost by reducing the preparation time, the need for extensive welding or joining methods, by simplifying the manufacturing process. The IAI has launched a program to use new superplastic (SP) alloys such as Ti-4.5Al-3V-2Fe-2Mo (SP-700) and extend research to use the aluminum alloy Weldalit in serial production for civil aircraft components. We were the first to produce by the SPF process production part from the conventional (coarse-grained) 6061 aluminum alloys sheets. This paper contains results of our research and practical applications with SPF techniques and various materials such as aluminum and titanium alloys. Samples of actual aircraft components and experimental parts, including computer simulation of the manufacturing process. In addition results including illustrations of manufacturing process from a techno-economical point of view.