George L. Durfee, a metallurgist who built his career around pioneering applied research projects for the titanium industry at forging company Wyman-Gordon Co., is the recipient of the prestigious 2019 International Titanium Associationâs (ITA) âLifetime Achievement Award.â? Durfee will be honored at the ITAâs 35th annual TITANIUM USA 2019 conference and exhibition, which will be held Sept. 22â25 at the SMG Mobile Convention Center in Mobile, AL.
In Durfeeâs nomination form, Max Schilenger, the president of Flight Rail Corp., Ukiah, CA, praised Durfee for âpioneering Ti-6-Al-4V (the workhorse aerospace titanium alloy) alpha-beta processing knowhow in forging and flow forming.â? Schilenger pointed out that through Durfeeâs insights and efforts, press and hammer optimal forging of titanium alloysâ”;ceramic and nickel-platedâ”;were critical in producing parts on the legendary Lockheed SR71 Blackbird, the high-speed, long-distance reconnaissance jet. The SR71 was an iconic aircraft that played a key role for the U.S. Air Force during the Cold War era of the 1960s.
