Paper 10: Titanium,Beryllium,and the Refractory Metals in the Aircraft Industry

The need for new materials capable of operating at elevated temperatures often while severely stressed is outlined, and the properties of titanium, beryllium and the refractory metals which give them importance for such application are described. These are ‘new’ metals in that their application as engineering materials is in its infancy and, as yet, generally accepted alloys have not been developed. The difficulties in forming and joining the metals are discussed, and their characteristic properties which make utilization difficult are outlined. Finally, a brief survey is made of the properties obtainable in alloys of the metals described and potential and actual fields of application are discussed.