Patent ID: 8387504

Claim:
A composite lightweight compressor airfoil for a turbomachine, comprising: a near surface braided fabric, wherein the braided fabric further comprises a fabric formed from a plurality of twisted fiber tows braided and oriented in a direction so that each of the plurality of tows extend substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to an axis of the airfoil to a principal direction of the airfoil, wherein the principal direction extends from a first end toward a second end of the airfoil; a core of an aluminum lithium alloy; an outer surface of the aluminum lithium alloy; wherein the aluminum-lithium alloy penetrates interstices of the fabric and the plurality of twisted fiber tows so that the aluminum-lithium alloy is substantially continuous; and wherein the tows are stuffer tows further comprising fiber having a high strength and a low elastic modulus, forming up to about 15% of the volume of the fabric.