SAMPLE TEST PROGRAMDesign of Graphite Titanium (TiGr) Parts
Intec is researching high-temperature graphite titanium sandwich structures as a lower cost, lower weight alternative to super plastic formed titanium structures in elevated temperature applications.
Nacelle doors
Intec's engineering staff evaluated and developed a redesign of the aft nacelle door/work platform of a tilt rotor aircraft using a laminated graphite titanium (TiGr) structure.
The current nacelle door, built from super-plastic formed titanium, served as the baseline for the technology comparison. Intec developed mechanical allowables, demonstrated manufacturability, and tested full-scale structural performance of two laminated graphite titanium nacelle doors.
  
Ti-core lay-up detail Core lay-up
The doors are a sandwich construction using titanium core and TiGr facesheets, which are laid-up using graphite prepreg and titanium foil. The nacelle door acts both as an engine enclosure and as a work maintenance platform.
Intec produced the complex curvature doors using a laminate titanium foil and IM7/PETI-5 prepreg. Intec has developed a critical proprietary process to surface treat the titanium foil with chrome to enhance long term bond performance at elevated temperature under this program.
Engine nacelle door
The doors were tested to all structural static and fatigue design load requirements. Projections are that they will exceed the program goals of a 25% reduction in weight of the baseline super plastic formed Ti parts, with cost parity for low production rates. Improvement in costs over the current design are expected with increased production rates.
TiGr Door Testing
The successful use of TiGr results in large cost reductions in building parts for high temperature applications. Following these studies, Intec is moving forward with a continuing TiGr program, investigating other applications for the TiGr laminates including other low and high temperature parts and the repair of titanium parts that have cracked in service.
Sample Programs
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