Abstract
Development of high-temperature materials ist he key to technological advancement in engineering areas where materials have to meet extreme requirements: The aeronautical, spacecraft and automotive industries. New structural materials have to be “stronger, stiffer and lighter“ to withstand the extremely demanding conditions in the next generation of aircraft engines, space vehicles and automotive engines. Intermetallic titanium aluminides exhibit numerous attractive properties, which meet these demands. These properties include high melting point, low density, high specific strength up to application temperatures of 700 to 900 °C. Thus, titanium aluminides have the potential to replace heavy nickel based superalloys.
