Arconic, the newly formed engineering materials and solutions company after Alcoa’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.
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.
Sherri McCleary, Arconic chief materials scientist explained to the media, “We’re looking at optimizing the materials that can be 3D printed to give more and more options to designers and architects.”
McCleary’s statement on material optimization and the new material EcoClean’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 ‘out of nature’ qualities.
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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.
Arconic has provided 3D printed titanium to Airplane manufacturer Airbus to build fuselage and engine parts for Airbus’ 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.
Arconic has started The Jetsons marketing campaign, ‘futurist engineering’ 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.
The ambitious project of a three-mile-high skyscraper is not an impossible task. Dubai have set a target to 3D print 25% of the city’s buildings by 2030 and it has already made progress on their goal with a 3D printed office for the Dubai Future Foundation.
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