The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has made a revolutionary discovery that could completely alter the field of additive manufacturing. TII's Advanced Materials Research Center (AMRC) has developed a new aluminium alloy powder called AMALLOY-HT, specifically designed for use in Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) machines.
This is the first metal alloy to be developed in the Middle East that is suitable for this kind of additive manufacturing.
Dr Nesma Aboulkhair, Director of Additive Manufacturing at TII, commented: "While there have been several examples of new materials for Additive Manufacturing emerging from laboratories in the US, Europe, and Australia, this is the first time the UAE has joined the elite list of countries with sovereign capabilities in this domain."
"We are now cultivating the expertise to produce metal powder and design innovative materials, empowering us to manufacture existing alloys and create new ones for both local and global markets," Aboulkhair added.
This discovery will expand the range of high-strength metals that can be used in additive manufacturing. AMALLOY-HT is a high-temperature variant of AMALLOY, a low-cost, high-strength aluminium alloy. The new alloy has demonstrated exceptional thermal stability, even in extremely high-temperature environments of up to 300°C, which is the highest operating temperature for aluminium before it begins to degrade.
TII has already filed two patents for AMALLOY and AMALLOY-HT with the US Patent and Trademark Office. The institute also plans to use its framework to develop alloys from other metal families. The introduction of AMALLOY and its high-temperature variant is expected to create opportunities for international collaboration among researchers, manufacturers, and industry leaders and enable them to take full advantage of these advanced materials.
The Lead Researcher in Additive Manufacturing Materials at TII, Dr Federico Bosio, asserted: "As part of TII's ongoing commitment to innovation, AMALLOY-HT will continue to undergo refinement, fine-tuning, and even more comprehensive testing."
"The goal is to commercialise the high-strength aluminium alloy specifically designed for high-temperature applications. While this material creates a plethora of new opportunities and solutions for industries around the world, it will also elevate Abu Dhabi and the UAE's reputation as a hub for cutting-edge research and development," Dr Bosio concluded.
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The high-temperature resistance of AMALLOY-HT is set to open up new avenues in innumerable sectors, like automotive, aviation, aerospace engineering, space exploration, oil and gas, and energy. This phenomenal discovery could potentially change the way these industries operate, and we can't wait to see what new innovations will emerge.
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