Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved method of making an improved turbine engine component having an annular array of airfoils connected wth inner and outer shrouds. The airfoils are cast separately from the shrouds to enable the airfoils and shrouds to be made from either the same or different materials. The airfoils advantageously have an elongated columnar grain structure with grain boundaries extending parallel to the leading and trailing edges of the airfoils. The inner and outer shrouds are formed of a plurality of arcuate sections which also may have an elongated columnar grain structure. The ends of the arcuate shroud sections are interconnected in such an orientation that the grain boundaries extend circumferentially around the circular shrouds to minimize the extent to which ends of the grains are exposed. In another embodiment of the invention, each of the arcuate shroud sections is formed of a single crystal.

Abstract: An improved welding chill is formed by covering a surface area of a part opposite from an area which is to be welded, with a body of powdered metal. The body of powdered metal is sintered while it is in engagement with the surface area of the part. This results in the accurate formation of a sintered metal chill member which is gas pervious, that is a chill member with spaces through which gas can flow. During a welding operation, an inert gas is conducted through the chill member to the surface area of the part against which the chill member is pressed to retard oxidation of the surface area.