Experimental Analysis on the Characteristics of Gas Turbine Blade Materials

Abstract

Gas turbine technology is gaining importance and has become viable option in most of the applications in view of depleting fossil fuels. Material research has widened the scope and life of gas turbines with improved performance. Present work experimentally studies about the characteristics of different materials that can be used in gas turbines and in particular, turbine/compressor blades. Nickel, Titanium and steel alloys of different metal compositions are selected. Hardness test is performed and index is compared. Metallurgical microscope is used for studying the grain structure. Surface roughness test is carried out after grinding and the values of Ra and Rz are compared. Later, heat treatment is carried out and tests are done after the heat treatment as well. Study reveals that suitable alloy can be identified ensuring safer and long withstanding of gas turbine components and blades giving more options in order to meet future power generation requirement.