Application of high-current pulsed electron beams for modifying the surface of gas-turbine engine blades

Experimental data on the influence of irradiation by high-current pulsed electron beams (HCPBs) on the physicochemical state of surface layers and operational properties of the blades of gas-turbine engines made of heat-resistant materials are analyzed. It is shown that the microsecond HCPB is a high-efficient tool for modifying the surface of turbine and compressor blades providing high-speed thermal treatment (quenching), material recrystallization in 20–30-μm-thick surface layers, and surface cleaning and smoothing. These processes determine the increase in the fatigue strength of blades (by 10–30%), heat resistance (by a factor of 2–4), and salt corrosion resistance (up to a factor of 6).