US Patent 7854809 Heat treatment system for a composite turbine engine component

A heat treatment process for a component of a turbine engine formed from multiple materials, such as steel and nickel. The heat treatment process includes two stages: a first stage for austinitizing the steel and solutioning the nickel, and a second stage for ageing and tempering the materials. The heat treatment process may include heating a component formed from a steel portion and a nickel portion such that the steel portion austinitizes and the nickel portion undergoes solutioning, cooling the component to prevent the excessive formation of gamma prime ({grave over (y)}), and subjecting the component to a temper heat treatment during which martensite tempering occurs.