Why Don’t Jet Engines Melt?

This video dives into how jet engines turn air and fuel into high-speed exhaust and why that process requires such massive, complex machinery. You’ll see a quick tour of a jet engine’s anatomy—from compressors and combustors to turbines—and learn why engineers went from early jet concepts to today’s gargantuan Rolls-Royce behemoths.

The real magic happens in the turbine section, where blades face temperatures that would melt regular metal. By using precision-cast nickel superalloys (the gamma-prime stuff), single-crystal blades, intricate internal cooling channels and heat-resistant coatings, designers keep those parts intact at over 1,700 °C. Along the way, you’ll get a peek at grain structures, edge dislocations and the manufacturing wizardry that makes modern flight possible.

Watch on YouTube