Scientists have created a new metal alloy that can survive extremely high temperatures—something that could make jet engines and power-plant turbines run more efficiently while using less fuel.
The discovery comes from researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany and was recently published in Nature.
The new material is made from a mix of chromium, molybdenum, and silicon—three metals known for their strength at high heat.
What makes this alloy special is that it combines properties that were previously thought impossible to achieve in one material.
It stays tough and flexible at room temperature but also remains stable at around 2,000 °C.
Even more impressive, it resists oxidation, meaning it doesn’t easily react with oxygen in the air, which often causes metals to weaken and fail when heated.
Until now, materials used in jet engines and gas turbines had limits.
Refractory metals like tungsten and molybdenum can withstand very high temperatures, but they become brittle at normal temperatures and quickly oxidize in air at just 600–700 °C.
Because of this, they can only be used in vacuum environments, such as inside X-ray machines.
To solve these problems, engineers have relied on nickel-based “superalloys” for decades. These complex mixtures of metals stay strong in air and are flexible enough to handle the stress inside engines.
However, their weakness is that they only work safely up to about 1,100 °C.
Beyond that, they begin to degrade, limiting the efficiency of modern engines. Higher temperatures mean better fuel efficiency—so finding a stronger, more heat-resistant material has been a long-standing goal.
The KIT team may have found a solution. Their chromium-molybdenum-silicon alloy not only survives the heat but also maintains its toughness and resists oxidation far better than previous materials.
Professor Martin Heilmaier, who led the research, said this could lead to a “technological leap” in how we design engines and turbines. Even a 100 °C increase in operating temperature could reduce fuel use by about 5 percent.
For aviation and power generation, that’s a major saving—both in cost and in carbon emissions.
While the alloy still needs to be refined and tested before it can be used in industry, this discovery is a big step forward. As Heilmaier explained, “With our fundamental research, we’ve reached an important milestone. Research groups around the world can now build on this achievement.”
If developed further, this material could help create aircraft engines and gas turbines that are not only more powerful but also more environmentally friendly—paving the way toward cleaner, more efficient energy technologies.
