SBIR Phase I: Non Destructive Evaluation of Hard Alpha Inclusions in Titanium Alloys and Damage Effects Due to Fatigue Using Photon Induced Positron Annihilation (PIPA)

这项小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将开展旨在提高关键钛合金部件中夹杂物的检测水平和表征的研究。无论是低密度夹杂物还是高密度夹杂物，这些钛缺陷都会严重影响断裂关键的机身结构和喷气发动机部件，导致灾难性故障。目前，对钛合金中硬α夹杂物的无损检测仅限于部件表面或部件附近较大的夹杂物，这导致了较高的遗漏缺陷的可能性。光子诱导正电子湮灭（PIPA）分析将用于在铸造过程的任何位置检测这些夹杂物，并作为现场使用的NDI技术进行评估，该技术可用于评估作战飞机部件的损伤累积。除了使用钛的其他行业外，利用光子诱导正电子湮灭进行硬α内含物检测领域的研究和发展在航空航天工业中具有广泛的影响。这项技术的发展对提高飞机安全性、维护、监视和更换昂贵的航空航天部件具有重要意义。随着对钛夹杂物损伤效应的认识的提高，在检测和部件更换领域的许多当前成本可以大大降低。随着钛在许多数十亿美元行业中的应用越来越多，PIPA夹杂物损伤检测对整个钛及相关行业将变得越来越重要。

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.