`GTD-111 superalloy patent dispute`

The central developed case of the lecture. GE files a heat-treatment patent in ~1986; the patent office rejects; the industry adopts the alloy; ~2001-2006 the patent issues; everyone is suddenly infringing. Tom's master's-thesis student finds a HIP-based rejuvenation workaround for an engine-refurbishment company.

This is actually a structural material — the firing temperature of engines. I've got my turbine blade going around there somewhere. This is firing temperature versus time — the higher the temperature, the more efficient the engine. These are the materials capabilities. Here's an interesting one, GTD-111. [Tom shows a broken fan blade.] Here's a broken GTD-111 fan blade. This is directionally solidified GTD-111. General Electric came up with this alloy in the 1980s — it was an improved alloy. Then we got single-crystal blades like I'm passing around. The firing temperature of the engine goes up. But finally they couldn't get any better until they went to air cooling — those air passages through that blade — and you had a tremendous jump.