Scientists at Rolls Royce identified a mechanism they believed led to the formation of surface defects in the blades, potentially limiting their performance and leading to costly reworking of the blades.

The Rolls Royce team used the Engin-X instrument through the ICRD scheme  to study test samples produced in their precision casting facility and heat treated. They then subjected the samples to further in situ heat treatment on Engin-X using neutron diffraction to follow the phase transformation throughout this process. This enabled the team to conclusively prove this mechanism and allowed them to implement a new manufacturing process that prevented surface defects from occurring.

“The experiments on Engin-X provided the evidence we needed to support an existing patent. We've now been able to use this patent in the foundry, and also read the technique across to other turbine components, leading to significant cost savings."

Neil D'Souza, Rolls Royce.  

​Further information 

See here to learn more on our dedicated engineering instrument Engin-X . 

For further information on beamtime for industry see here or contact our industrial liaison Dr Christopher Frost via email or on +44 (0)1235 445296 for further information.