Why Don’t Jet Engines Melt?
Derek Muller’s video unpacks how jet engines crank air through giant compressors, ignite fuel at scorching temperatures and still stay solid—thanks to precision‐cast turbine blades made from nickel superalloys (γ′ phase), single‐crystal growth techniques and ingenious thermal barrier coatings. You’ll get a peek inside Rolls-Royce’s casting facility, learn about edge dislocations and crystal structures, and even see why a bit of sand can wreck havoc in the high-pressure turbine.
Along the way there are fun sponsor plugs (KiwiCo, a space‐themed sweepstakes by Science Alert and a new tabletop game), plus shout-outs to the Rolls-Royce team, Cambridge experts and a squad of researchers, animators and producers who helped make this deep dive possible.
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