US Patent 7736131 - Turbine blade with CNT shell

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7736131.html

In order to increase the life expectancy of gas turbine engines this patent teaches using carbon nanotubes to improve the temperature stability of turbine blades. Claim 1 reads:

1. A turbine blade for use in a gas turbine engine, the turbine blade comprising:

an attachment portion;

a spar extending outward from the attachment portion;

a shell secured to the attachment portion; and,

the shell being formed from nanotubes extending substantially in the spanwise direction of the blade.