The application of titanium alloy additive manufacturing technology in the aerospace field

The additive manufacturing technology was first applied to the carrier-based fighter aircraft in the United States in 2001. Through the titanium alloy additive manufacturing technology, the aircraft's load-bearing structural components were produced and applied in aerospace production. In 2011, the University of Southampton in the UK produced an overall frame including the wings, control panels, and cabin doors of unmanned aircraft through additive manufacturing technology. After 2012, the application of titanium alloy additive manufacturing technology in the aerospace field achieved unprecedented development. Titanium alloy parts not only have been widely used in aircraft manufacturing, but also new types of titanium alloy materials began to be applied in aerospace equipment such as rockets and space shuttles. The parts produced by titanium alloy additive manufacturing technology greatly reduced the number of welds between aerospace equipment. Due to the higher strength of titanium alloy, the safety of aerospace equipment has been greatly improved. Relevant departments and research institutions in China have also continuously conducted research on titanium alloy additive manufacturing technology. Now it has been applied in the aerospace field. The aircraft wings and main load-bearing components produced by China using titanium alloy additive manufacturing technology have met the corresponding technical requirements and have been applied in aircraft manufacturing. In 2013, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics produced titanium alloy aircraft main load-bearing components through titanium alloy additive manufacturing technology, which passed technical verification and underwent installation review. This made China the first country in the world to master the design and manufacturing of titanium alloy aircraft main load-bearing components, marking that China's titanium alloy additive manufacturing technology has entered the world's leading position.