SBIR-STTR Award

Assessment of Manufacturing and Fatigue Damage Effects in Titanium Alloys Using Induced Positron Annihilation
Award last edited on: 6/28/2006

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
NSF
Total Award Amount
$545,680
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
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Principal Investigator
Jagoda Urban-Klaehn

Company Information

Positron Systems Inc

411 South 5th Street
Boise, ID 83702
   (208) 429-9595
   cdickerson@positronsystems.com
   www.positronsystems.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 02
County: Ada

Phase I

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase I year
2003
Phase I Amount
$99,295
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will perform research aimed at improved detection levels and characterization of inclusions in critical titanium alloy components. Labeled as either low-density or high-density inclusions, these titanium defects can significantly impact fracture-critical airframe structures and jet engine components, resulting in catastrophic failures. The non-destructive detection of hard alpha inclusions in titanium alloys is currently limited to relatively large inclusions that are on or near the component surface, resulting in high potential for missed defects. Photon Induced Positron Annihilation (PIPA) analysis will be developed to detect these inclusions early in the manufacturing process at any location in the casting, and evaluated as a field use NDI technology that can be used to assess damage buildup in operational aircraft components. Research and development in the area of hard alpha inclusion detection using Photon Induced Positron Annihilation has broad impacts in the aerospace industry, in addition to other industries where titanium is used. Development of this technology has primary implications relative to improved aircraft safety and in the maintenance, surveillance, and replacement of highly expensive aerospace components. With improved knowledge of titanium inclusion damage effects, many current costs in the areas of inspection and component replacement can be substantially reduced. With the increasing usage of titanium in many multi-billion dollar industries, PIPA detection of inclusion damage will become increasingly important to the overall titanium and related industries

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase II year
2005
Phase II Amount
$446,385
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II research project will develop a prototype Induced Positron Manufacturing Damage System (IPMDS) to be used to assess initial component quality, and manufacturing damage effects for Ti-6Al-4V and IN738 components. The IPMDS is based on the Induced Positron Annihilation technologies whose capabilities to assess alpha inclusion and fatigue damage effects have been previously demonstrated. The IPMDS is an innovative damage assessment tool that will be developed with support from Precision Cast Corporation (PCC) as a manufacturing quality control and damage assessment tool to be used to reduce costs in place of current destructive methods, which are expensive and do not provide adequate sensitivity to either manufacturing or operational damage effects. The IPMDS will contribute to extended use component designs, cost savings, and efficient operations for the titanium and nickel super-alloy industries. Commercial applications of IPMDS will be targeted at the structural and turbine engine industries, which extensively utilize expensive titanium and nickel super-alloy components. The IPMDS has a high potential for becoming a critical and necessary inspection tool in these industries due to its potential for minimizing manufacturing variability, assessing operational damage, optimizing maintenance requirements, reducing costs, and improving safety. The IPMDS capability is expected to extend inspection applications to a wide range of industries where improved knowledge of manufacturing variability, induced damage effects, minimization of inspection and replacement costs, and component life extension are important.