Abstract: A method of diffusion bonding two components together comprises providing a first component having a first bonding surface, and a second component having a second bonding surface. Each of the first bonding surface and the second bonding surface is etched. A cold working process is applied to each of the first bonding surface and the second bonding surface. Each of the first bonding surface and the second bonding surface is then etched. The first component is positioned adjacent to the second component with the first bonding surface abutting against the second bonding surface, to define a joint surface between the first component and the second component. A peripheral edge of the joint surface is sealed. The first bonding surface is diffusion bonded to the second bonding surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aerofoil structure to have a portion with an increased erosion resistance, the method comprising: providing one or more titanium elements (2, 4, 6) and a beta-stabilizing material (8); wherein the one or more elements (2, 4, 6) have an alpha-beta microstructure; assembling the one or more elements (2, 4, 6) and the beta-stabilizing material (8) such that the beta-stabilizing material (8) is adjacent to the one or more elements (2, 4, 6); and heating the assembly such that the beta-stabilizing material (8) diffuses into an adjacent portion of the one or more elements (2, 4, 6), causing the adjacent portion of the one or more elements (2, 4, 6) to have a beta microstructure which provides an increased erosion resistance.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gas turbine engine fan blade (10) comprises forming three metal workpieces (30,32,34). The metal workpieces (30,32,34) are assembled into a stack (36) so that the flat surfaces (38,42,46,48) are in mating abutment. Heat and pressure is applied across the thickness of the metal workpieces (30,32,34) to diffusion bond the metal workpieces (30,32,34) together to form an integral structure (80). The integral structure (80) is upset forged at one end (58) to produce an increase in thickness (82) for forming the blade root (26). The upset forged integral structure (80) is then hot creep formed and superplastically formed to produce the required aerofoil shape and the thickened end (82) is machined to form the blade root (26). The method enables thinner metallic workpieces with better microstructure to be used and increases the yield of metallic workpieces.