Improving environmental performances of integrated bladed rotors for aircraft

Aircraft engine manufacturers have been reported to cause great environmental impacts within the aircraft manufacturing industry, with a large contribution stemming from the integrated bladed rotors due to special manufacturing requirements. Here we assess all relevant life cycle environmental impacts of manufacturing a Ti-6Al-4 V alloy rotor and investigate potential impact reductions resulting from different recycling scenarios for alloy chips. The hot spot analysis shows a dominance of the material stage compared to manufacturing and hazardous waste disposal. 100% recycling of titanium chips into alloy gives a 52% reduced climate change impact compared to the conventional hazardous waste treatment of the chips.