2-6-20, Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0028 Japan
Tel +81-(0)3-3274-5125 Fax +81-(0)3-3274-5103 http://www.hondafoundation.jp/en/PRESS RELEASE
September 17, 2014

Dr. Helmut Clemens, Head of the Department of Physical Metallurgy andMaterials Testing at the Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria, Receives theHonda Prize 2014 for Contributions in the Development of IntermetallicTitanium Aluminides for the Next Generation of Eco-friendly Propulsion
Systems
The Honda Foundation, a public-interest incorporated foundation created by Honda Motor’sfounder Soichiro Honda and his younger brother Benjiro Honda, is pleased to announce that theHonda Prize 2014*1 will be awarded to Dr. Helmut Clemens for his outstanding contributions andeminent achievements in the development of light-weight structural intermetallic*2 titanium
aluminides, so-called γ-TiAl based alloys. The alloys and the processing technology developed by
the research group of Dr. Clemens and his R&D partners, including MTU Aero Engines,
Germany’s leading aero engine manufacturer, are considered as key elements to be used in the next
generation of advanced low-emission and fuel-efficient combustion engines.
Dr. Clemens is the Head of the Department of Physical Metallurgy and Materials Testing at theMontanuniversität Leoben in Austria. The university has defined its central fields of research as
mineral resources, sustainable production and technology, and high-performance materials. Dr.
Clemens is the 35th laureate of the Honda Prize. The award ceremony will be held at the Imperial
Hotel in Tokyo on November 17, 2014. In addition to the prize medal and certificate, the laureate
will be awarded 10 million yen.
Dr. Clemens is one of the internationally most renowned experts in the field of titanium
aluminides. His activities and research on intermetallic γ-TiAl based alloys for more than twodecades have significantly contributed to the fact that they are presently seen as key structural
materials for high-temperature application in advanced jet and automotive engines of the next
generation. Due to almost half the specific weight of TiAl alloys compared to presently used
Nickel-base superalloys, improved design concepts can be applied to combustion engines. A
considerable potential for saving fuel and reduction of CO2 emission is a further consequence. In
general, titanium aluminides have some shortcomings, that is, low ductility at room temperature andextremely difficult forgeability even at high temperatures. Within the framework of fundamentalresearch programs, a new family of TiAl alloys termed TNM alloys, was developed by Dr. Clemens
which exhibits adaptive properties, for example, “soft” when hot-worked and “hard” when used as
structural components. For the first time a computer-aided method was applied to define thecomposition of an engineering TiAl alloy.
However, the potential of TiAl intermetallics cannot be fully exploited if no proper technologies
are available to fabricate engine components, for example, turbine blades. Dr. Clemens has also set
pioneering steps in this field. Due to the applied research activities, production steps likeconventional near-net shape forging are now applicable for TiAl intermetallics. On top of that, in
their forged and heat-treated condition, TNM alloys show approximately the double the strength ofalready used cast alloys, yet maintaining certain ductility at room temperature. The most advanced-1-experimental methods were applied to investigate the internal structure of the developed TiAl alloy
from atomic to macroscopic scale. Furthermore, novel in-situ techniques were used to study
technological processes, such as forging and heat treatments, in real-time. In addition to theexperimental approach, extensive theoretical modeling was conducted both for effective alloy
design and process development.
The intermetallic TiAl alloy developed by Dr. Clemens is currently undergoing validation andcertification by one of the world-leading aero-engine manufacturers: Pratt & Whitney is going touse forged TiAl blades in its geared turbofan (GTF) engines for the Airbus A320neo aircraft andalso Irkut MC-21.
The GTF PurePower® PW1000G engine family is a game-changing propulsion concept based ona new engine architecture. The new technology will reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions,and will cut perceived noise levels by half compared with today’s engines. The GTF engines for theA320neo and the MC-21 are being realized by Pratt & Whitney working with MTU Aero Engines
and the Japanese Aero Engine Cooperation (JAEC). To all GTF engines MTU contributes thehigh-speed low-pressure turbine. The rear blade row of this turbine for the A320neo and MC-21
engines will be equipped with TiAl blades. Due to the higher rotational speed of the low-pressure
turbine, the use of forged high-strength TiAl blades is absolutely essential.
In order to further extend the future potential of these innovative intermetallic materials, more
applications in automotive and aero engines as well as other areas must be identified. The additional
weight reduction will contribute to even lesser CO2 and NOx emissions and improved fuelefficiency. To this end, future research shall be directed to further increase the high-temperaturecapabilities of TiAl alloys as well as to develop smart coating concept which will guarantee safe
protection and lifetime of a component. Concurrently, reliable and cost-effective production routes
as well as proper recycling technologies have to be established.
Established in 1980, the Honda Prize is awarded annually to an individual or group to recognize
accomplishments in the field of ecotechnology*3, which works to advance human achievement
while concurrently preserving the natural environment. New structural materials have to be “lighterand stronger” to withstand the extremely high demanding conditions in the next generation ofautomotive and aircraft engines, which are targeted to exhibit higher efficiency leading to reduced
fuel consumption as well as significantly decreased CO2 emissions. Intermetallic titanium
aluminides are considered as key materials to meet this challenging goal. The alloys and processing
technology developed by Dr. Clemens are among the goals of ecotechnology. Therefore, Dr.
Clemens’s contributions to the field are considered appropriate for the Honda Prize recognition.

*1 Honda Prize: Japan’s first international science and technology award inaugurated in 1980.
*2 Intermetallic: Materials composed of two or more types of metal atoms, which exist as homogeneous,composite substances and differ discontinuously in structure from that of the constituent metals.
*3 Ecotechnology: Coined from “ecology”-the house of civilization –and “technology.” It has been put forward
since 1979 as the guiding philosophy for a better symbiosis between technology-driven civilization and nature.

For more information, please contact;
Honda Foundation (phone :+81-3-3274-5125/fax: +81-3-3274-5103); or
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Public Relations Division (phone : +81-3-5412-1512)-2-Dr. Helmut Clemens
Head of the Department of Physical Metallurgy and Materials Testing at theMontanuniversität Leoben, Austria
Born
July 26, 1957 in Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria (Austrian citizenship)
Education and Training
1997: Habilitation (Postdoctoral Lecture Qualification).
Subject: Intermetallic Materials; Montanuniversität Leoben
1987: Ph.D. (Dr. mont.), Montanuniversität Leoben, Materials Science
1983: M.S., Montanuniversität Leoben, Materials Science
Employment History
Montanuniversität Leoben, Professor, Head of the Department of Physical Metallurgy andMaterials Testing, 7/2003 - present.
Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Head of the Institute for Materials Research. Responsible forthe areas “Metal Physics”, “New Materials” and “Neutron Activities” in a joint appointment as
Professor at the Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, 7/2000-6/2003.
University of Stuttgart, Professor, Institute of Physical Metallurgy, 3/1997-6/2000.
Plansee AG, Head of the R&D group “Intermetallic Materials”, 2/1990-2/1997.
Montanuniversität Leoben, Research Assistant at the Department of Physics, 1987-90.
Biographical Sketch
Helmut Clemens is one of the internationally most renowned experts in the field of structuralintermetallic materials, with particular focus on light-weight titanium aluminides, so-called
γ-TiAl based alloys. The most important advantage of TiAl alloys is their almost half specificweight, when compared to the presently used Nickel-base superalloys. The alloys and processing
technology developed by the research group of Dr. Clemens and his industrial partners are
considered as key elements to be used in the next generation of eco-friendly combustion engines,
where they partly replace heavy superalloys. Dr. Clemens is the Head of the Department of
Physical Metallurgy and Materials Testing at the Montanuniversität Leoben in Austria. For his
scientific contributions, Dr. Clemens was awarded the Rektor-Platzer-Ring of theMontanuniversität Leoben in 1983, the Georg-Sachs Prize of the German Society of Materials
Science in 1995, the University Research Award of the Industry of the Austrian Industrial
Society in 2006, and the Wolfgang-Houska Prize of the B&C Foundation, Austria, in 2010,
among others.
Major Publications
Advanced Intermetallic TiAl Alloys: (with S. Mayer), Advanced Engineering Materials,
Review Article, 2012.
Technology and Properties of Advanced γ-TiAl Based Alloys: (with several co-authors), Int.
Journal of Materials Research and Advanced Techniques, 2009.
Neutrons and Synchrotron Radiation in Engineering Materials Science: (edited with W.
Reimers, A.R. Pyzalla and A. Schreyer), Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany, 2008.
Gamma Titanium Aluminides 2003: (edited with Y-W. Kim and A.H. Rosenberger), TMS,Warrendale, USA, 2003.

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