Recently, the team from the new metal materials and near-net forming technology sector at Mingyue Lake in Chongqing Liangjiang Collaborative Innovation Zone has achieved significant advancements in the preparation of 950MPa high-strength titanium alloy foil. Their development of high-temperature, high-strength alloy "new products" has filled a gap in domestic products.

This technical team was established jointly by the Chongqing Science and Technology Innovation Center of Northwestern Polytechnical University and Chongqing Sanhang New Materials Technology Research Institute. They led the municipal key scientific research project "Research and Application of Aerospace High-Temperature Metal Foil," successfully breaking through the high-quality preparation and production technology of high-end metal sheet foil. The team now aims to advance the industrialization process of this technology at Chongqing Sanhang New Materials Technology Research Institute to achieve large-scale production of titanium alloy sheet foil.

High-performance titanium alloy sheet foil has applications not only in aerospace but also in other fields such as coating materials for aerospace electronic equipment, mobile phone folding screens, and hydrogen fuel cell bipolar plates.

Aerospace Vehicles

Titanium alloy plates and foils are extensively used in aerospace vehicles for lightweight, high-strength, and high-temperature resistant structural parts, such as honeycomb panels and sandwich panels. The demand for these materials has increased with the introduction of hypersonic aircraft design concepts. Traditional pure titanium (TA2, TA3) and alloy plates (TA18, TC1) are no longer adequate for high-temperature and high-stress environments. Thus, developing titanium alloy plates and foils with higher strength, thinner thickness, and better high-temperature performance is crucial.

TC4 and Ti2AlNb alloys can withstand operating temperatures of 350-500℃ and 500-750℃, respectively, offering higher strength and stiffness, better heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and fatigue performance. Utilizing these high-performance titanium alloy plates can enhance the specific strength and heat resistance of aerospace vehicle structural parts, improving the comprehensive performance of aircraft and providing a material foundation for the next generation of hypersonic aircraft.

Folding Screens of Mobile Phones

To achieve thin and light products while maintaining strength, mobile phone manufacturers are incorporating new materials such as titanium alloy into hinge shaft covers. Titanium alloy is light and exceptionally strong. A hinge shaft cover made from titanium alloy is 150% stronger than one made from aluminum alloy, with a 27% reduction in hinge width. It also offers toughness and enhanced corrosion resistance, providing more reliable protection for folding screen mobile phones.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates

Titanium and its alloys, with their low density, high specific strength, and excellent corrosion resistance in acidic environments, have significant application value in hydrogen fuel cell bipolar plates.

Bipolar plates are primarily made from graphite, composite, or metal. Metal bipolar plates, including those made from stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and titanium alloy, feature thin thickness, excellent thermal conductivity, high mechanical strength, and good gas barrier properties, contributing to improved battery power density. The mature processing technology of metal materials allows for the manufacturing of high-precision complex flow fields through stamping, die casting, and laser forming, facilitating large-scale production of plates. Consequently, metal bipolar plates are the mainstream choice for hydrogen fuel cell bipolar plate materials.

Among these, titanium and titanium alloys stand out due to their low density, high specific strength, and excellent corrosion resistance in hydrogen fuel cells, which significantly reduce the weight and volume of bipolar plates. This improvement enhances the mass power ratio and volume power ratio of the battery. Additionally, the corrosion products of titanium and titanium alloys are less toxic to proton exchange membranes and catalysts, thereby improving battery stability and durability.

References

Research and Application of Aerospace High-Temperature Metal Foil

High-Performance Titanium Alloy Applications in Aerospace

Mobile Phone Folding Screen Material Innovations

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bipolar Plate Material Advancements