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I'm interested in building a working model of a turbojet engine, but I don't have a lot of supplies. So I'm wondering if it's possible to use aluminum cans for construction, for every body part. While we're on this topic, would the heat melt the aluminum?

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    $\begingroup$ See What material is used to make the hot sections of jet engines?. A model will still have high-temperature and high-pressure areas. $\endgroup$
    – mins
    Mar 1, 2016 at 9:06
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    $\begingroup$ There was a junkyard wars episode where a team made a jet engine out of scrap metal, and it worked long enough to win the competition. Pretty epic and worth a look. I don't think aluminum soft drink cans are up to the task but there's other scrap material which could be used. $\endgroup$
    – GdD
    Mar 1, 2016 at 9:09
  • $\begingroup$ What materials do you recommend? $\endgroup$ Mar 1, 2016 at 9:13
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    $\begingroup$ How about a pulse jet? They're supposedly much simpler to build. pulsejetengines.com/how-to-make-a-pulse-jet $\endgroup$
    – ROIMaison
    Mar 1, 2016 at 9:24
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    $\begingroup$ Visit a junkyard and find an old turbocharger? $\endgroup$
    – jamesqf
    Mar 1, 2016 at 18:59

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No, you cannot make an entire model jet engine out of aluminium. Most fuels burn at 1000+C and aluminium melts at around 660C: Even if you keep the burning contained in airflow (thus away from the walls) the heat transfer will still damage the aluminium.

You could make the majority of the engine from it, though: Just as long as you find something more suitable for the 'hot' parts.

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    $\begingroup$ A quick Google search turned up that you can burn an Ethanol-water mixture at 700K (427 degrees C). And you might be able to wrap the fuel supply lines around the combustion chamber to preheat the fuel and simultaneously cool the chamber. Still, that first disk in the turbine will be running hot. $\endgroup$
    – MSalters
    Mar 8, 2016 at 22:49

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