Baosteel Succeeded in RD of large aircraft undercarriage steel

Since the major scientific project of national large aircraft research was established last year, Baosteel got involved in advance and started the advanced research and trial manufacture of the key special metallurgical materials for the "large aircraft" project, bringing into play the advantage of R&D in special materials for aviation.

For the moment, Baosteel has succeeded in the development of 300M super high strength steel for large aircraft undercarriage and 4 varieties of titanium alloy structural steel. The development of special steel for engine related to the "large aircraft" project had been carried out in full swing.

Large aircraft refers to air carriers with over 100 MT flying-off gross weight, including large air carriers for military and civil purposes, and trunk liners with more than 150 seats. At present time, only U.S.A., 4 countries of Europe and Russia are capable of manufacturing large aircraft, while only Boing of U.

S.A. and Airbus of Europe share the world market. The research of large aircraft is a project involving high, precision and top technologies. Each aircraft needs nearly 100 MT high temperature alloy and titanium alloy, and approximately 15 MT special high strength steel for the undercarriage.

Since the national "large aircraft" project was started, Baosteel Special Steel Branch has determined such key R&D directions as high strength steel for aircraft undercarriage, titanium alloy structural steel and steel for large aircraft engine, and has been tackling the key problems in full power, a result of actively visiting the relevant institutions for design, equipment manufacture and material research by its managers and technicians, enhancing the technical exchanges in the earlier stage, and the formation, with backbone R&D power, of the Project Group Dedicated for the Development of New Materials for Supporting Major Projects.

At the present time, Special Steel Branch has carried out fully such research tasks related to the "large craft" project as super clean smelting technology research, large-size VAR ingot technology research, large-size product homogenization technology research, large-size product forging technology research, etc.

Special Steel Branch is closely tracking the R&D demand of the design and equipment manufacturing units related to the large aircraft. Utilizing its characteristics in equipment and technology, it is constantly doing R&D in further detail in the key materials for the "large aircraft" project such as the special steel plate, profile, and steel for connecting piece and engine.

It will strive to pass approval for the scientific research projects in the first half of the year, and started investment for the early production for the relevant advanced research tasks and the key materials to support strongly the national "large aircraft" project.