H.C. Starck High Tech Materials for Aerospace and Aviation

Whenever ideas are to be transformed into successful products or applications, the first step is to find the appropriate materials. And there is hardly another company worldwide that can meet your material needs of critical aerospace applications as competently as H.C. Starck. Offering an innovative and unique range of products in refractory metal powders and fabrications as well as advanced ceramics, H.C. Starck plays a major role in today`s fast growing aerospace and aviation market.

H.C. Starck was founded in Berlin, Germany, in 1920. More than 80 years of experience in powder metallurgy and over four decades of work in metals and ceramics processing support the expertise we offer. H.C. Starck has manufacturing facilities located in Europe, the US and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

Tungsten balance weights for lightweight aerospace components

Lightweight design is a true triumph in aviation – yet, one of the densest metals in existence today, tungsten, is used in this field. Tungsten’s inherent characteristics of high density, hardness, high strength, and machinability when alloyed, make it the perfect choice for the aviation and aerospace industries. This is especially true when an extremely high concentration of weight is required in a very small area.

Tungsten alloys serve as counterbalance weights and vibration protection absorption parts for hydraulically controlled ailerons, rudders and elevator components and for counterbalancing helicopter rotor blades and airfoils. HC Starck produces these parts by compacting and sintering the powders followed by machining in accordance with requirements and quality standards of aviation and aerospace customers worldwide.

Molybdenum for aerospace engine parts

Turbine blades in modern engines experience extreme mechanical and thermal stress. They consist of superalloys containing tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, and rhenium supplied by H.C. Starck. The production of important engine parts – blades, disks and hubs – by isothermal forging and diffusion bonding requires robust moulding tools. H.C. Starck supplies large quantities of molybdenum alloys for the manufacture of these tools.

Thermal spray powders for heat and wear protection of aerospace engines

Tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, rhenium and niobium are essential components of superalloys exposed to high stress levels such as in turbine-blades in modern engines. These blades for example receive an additional heat insulation layer in order to withstand very high temperatures. H.C. Starck’s AMPERIT® products for this application are certified by leading turbine engine manufacturers.

Customers who choose to apply thick thermal insulation layers in order to run the turbines in a safe manner while extending service cycles use yttrium-stabilised zirconium oxide from H.C. Starck. Additional running in layers prevent performance diminishing backflow – a technology that is continuously improved and consequently will reduce specific fuel consumption.