Arconic reveals plan for 3D printed concept skyscraper that can absorb pollution

<p>Arconic, the newly formed engineering materials and solutions company after Alcoa&rsquo;s spinoff in November 2016, has announced its plans to build a smog-eating skyscraper using 3D printing by 2062. 3D printing is forecasted to have a revolutionary change to the material processing technology in 2017.<br />&nbsp;<br />Arconic is planning to use the material EcoClean to give its concept tower the smog-eating capabilities. The titanium dioxide based coating for aluminium would have the ability to absorb toxins from the air.<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/arconicskyscaper16th.png" alt="News" width="517" height="226" /><br />Sherri McCleary, Arconic chief materials scientist explained to the media, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re looking at optimizing the materials that can be 3D printed to give more and more options to designers and architects.&rdquo;<br /><br />McCleary&rsquo;s statement on material optimization and the new material EcoClean&rsquo;s smart capabilities indicate the development of metamaterials in future. As a multi-billion-dollar company that has 100 years of experience in metals through Alcoa, Arconic is perfectly placed as a developer of these synthetic composites that would have &lsquo;out of nature&rsquo; qualities.<br /><br />{googleAdsense}<br /><br />Arconic has already been working on venturing into the 3D printed metal market since 2016. In July 2016, Alcoa opened its state-of-the-art, 3D printing metal powder production facility at the Alcoa Technology Center, to produce proprietary titanium, nickel and aluminum powders optimized for 3D printed aerospace parts. These super-alloys are perfect for high value uses for their ability to withstand high pressures and are currently in production at its Pittsburgh plant.<br />&nbsp;<br />Arconic has provided 3D printed titanium to Airplane manufacturer Airbus to build fuselage and engine parts for Airbus&rsquo; commercial planes. Arconic has also signed a $470 million contract with Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer to supply additive manufacturing technology for its first E-Jet E2 airlines. <br /><br />Arconic has started The Jetsons marketing campaign, &lsquo;futurist engineering&rsquo; project that seeks to predict and develop the most useful technologies of the future and the smog-eating skyscraper is a part of this ambitious campaign.<br />&nbsp;<br />The ambitious project of a three-mile-high skyscraper is not an impossible task.&nbsp; Dubai have set a target to 3D print 25% of the city&rsquo;s buildings by 2030 and it has already made progress on their goal with a 3D printed office for the Dubai Future Foundation. <br /><br /></p>