ONERA and materials for turbojet engines.

ONERA has played since fifty years an outstanding role in the acquisition of knowledge needed by the French aeronautic motorists Snecma and Turbomeca in the field of materials and processes. Its activity has been devoted to both basic and applied research, in a way to better understand the behaviour of the different material families useful for engine design and production, enlarge the choice potential as well as models the response of materials to their processing and use. After having presented in a historic perspective the specific contribution of ONERA to the development of nickel base super alloys for discs and blades, and titanium alloys, its approach of material mechanics and material processing is described. Then, the main themes of the ONERA activity supporting the future turbo-engine progresses are reviewed, which concerns advanced intermetallics, composites and thermal coatings. The unique success of ONERA in aid of the french motorists is mainly based on a broad spectrum of competences carefully maintained, a constant concern for interdisciplinarity and a large set of specific equipments devoted to expertise and testing purpose as long as to processing experiment.