GKN Aerospace has been awarded the contract by Boeing to develop and supply advanced titanium metal matrix composite (TMMC) for the 787. TMMC is an advanced engineered material consisting of silicon carbide fibre and titanium powder that has been diffusion bonded.

This news is a huge development for metal matrix composites, and a major step forward in commercialisation. GKN Aerospace will manage the contract, supplying two versions of the thrust link to enable integration with either the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000, which is part of the same family of engines that power the airbus, including the new Airbus 380 superjumbo, or the GEnx engine.

GKN Aerospace partnered with FMW Composite Systems to seal the deal. FMW developed a cost-effective method of TMMC manufacturer by producing their own fibre material and using powdered titanium in the diffusion process to keep material costs low. TMMC is stronger than conventional titanium alloys, 25-40 per cent lighter than traditional steel, and has an increased temperature tolerance over monolithic titanium.

Frank Bamford, Senior Vice President and Strategy for GKN aerospace is positive about the contract and confident in GKN’s partnership with FMW. “FMW’s innovative TMMC manufacturing skills and our expertise in program management – and in the complex welding of highly loaded titanium structures using our low-cost machining centre in Mexico – means the Boeing 787 will be the first of many civil aircraft to benefit from this immensely promising development”.