Aerospace Applications

Advanced materials used in aerospace applications have to withstand harsh operating environments. For example, to meet environmental and commercial concerns researchers are developing advanced materials and coating systems for greater fuel efficiency in gas turbine engines. Increasing turbine entry temperature requires more efficient thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) to protect the components from the increased temperature, so efficiency and reliability are closely interlinked. Microstructural optimisation for wear resistance is an essential step in designing for improved efficiency coupled with reliability.

Avionics

Similarly, in avionics, external life-cycle factors, with more extreme thermal cycling that components are exposed to compared to more conventional ground applications result in formation of intermetallic phases in solder joints that can significantly affect the joint reliability due to their brittleness.

Unique capabilities of the NanoTest Vantage – such as the capability to perform nanomechanical testing at temperatures up to 750°C – mean that it is increasingly being used for measurements of the mechanical properties of high-temperature and high performance materials for a wide range of applications in the aerospace industry from airframe to avionics to engine development.