CNPC Powder and BLT partner to scale up production and international sales of BLT-AlAM400 aluminium alloy powder

Aluminium alloy powder production for additive manufacturing is set to expand through a new technical cooperation agreement between CNPC Powder China Ltd and Xi’an Bright Laser Technologies Co Ltd (BLT). The agreement covers the production and international distribution of BLT-AlAM400, an aluminium alloy powder developed for applications in humanoid robotics, new energy vehicles (NEVs), aerospace and other industrial sectors.

Under the agreement, BLT has authorised Shanghai-based CNPC Powder to manufacture BLT-AlAM400 on a contract basis in China and sell the powder internationally. CNPC Powder has also secured exclusive overseas agency rights, excluding BLT’s direct sales network and existing regional agents.

With an annual powder production capacity of almost 10,000 tonnes, CNPC Powder plans to use its proprietary atomisation technology to support the alloy's volume production. The partnership combines BLT's alloy development and processing expertise with CNPC Powder's manufacturing capabilities.

BLT-AlAM400 offers high strength and elevated-temperature stability

Developed by BLT for automotive lightweighting, humanoid robotics and other industrial applications, BLT-AlAM400 is designed to provide a combination of strength, toughness and elevated-temperature stability. Its reported mechanical properties exceed those of conventional AlSi10Mg alloys.

At room temperature, the alloy has a tensile strength (Rm) of approximately 460 MPa, a yield strength (Rp0.2) of around 390 MPa and elongation (A) of approximately 10 per cent. BLT also reports consistent mechanical properties following heat treatment and good batch-to-batch consistency.

The alloy is designed to maintain a balance of strength and ductility at elevated temperatures. According to BLT, this makes it suitable for applications such as NEV thermal management components and high-temperature pipelines.

Thicker aluminium powder layers increase build rate

The processing performance of BLT-AlAM400 has also been evaluated using BLT's dual-laser BLT-S320 Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) additive manufacturing machine. The processing data show that the alloy supports layer thicknesses ranging from 30 to 150 µm.

At a layer thickness of 150 µm, the reported build rate reaches 76.76 cm³/h, three times the rate achieved at 30 µm. Relative density remains between 99.25 per cent and 99.95 per cent across the tested layer thicknesses, while hardness shows minimal variation.

BLT reports that the process maintains consistent metallurgical properties with thicker layers, limiting the associated deterioration in mechanical performance. The powder also demonstrates consistent recoating and melting behaviour without a pronounced tendency towards hot cracking.

These processing characteristics enable the production of complex thin-walled structures and hollow integrated housings, according to the company.

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Aluminium alloy powder supports humanoid robot component production

Humanoid robotics is one of the key application areas identified by BLT for BLT-AlAM400. The alloy has been used to manufacture upper-arm housings weighing 0.455 kg.

The component integrates multiple structural features into a single part. According to BLT, this design reduces weight while improving robot load capacity and agility without increasing energy consumption.

Production data from the 20-laser BLT-S800 machine also demonstrate the manufacturing efficiency achieved with this configuration. Using a full build plate, BLT reports an average production time of 58.6 minutes per part, representing a claimed 70% improvement in efficiency compared with a six-laser configuration.

Additive manufacturing simplifies aviation pipeline production

Beyond robotics, BLT has demonstrated the use of BLT-AlAM400 in thin-walled aviation and hydraulic pipelines measuring 67 × 136 × 280 mm.

The additive manufacturing process allows complex bends and internal flow channels to be produced as a single component. This eliminates the need for conventional pipe-bending, welding and multiple machining operations.

BLT reports that using thicker build layers reduces production time while maintaining consistent mechanical properties and leak-tightness. The application demonstrates the alloy's processing capabilities in the production of integrated pipeline structures.

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CNPC Powder adds BLT-AlAM400 to its aluminium alloy portfolio

The agreement further expands CNPC Powder's existing aluminium alloy powder portfolio, which includes AlSi10Mg, medium-to-high-strength alloys and high-thermal-conductivity grades.

Its range includes BLT-AlAM400, CNPC-BFS and other alloys with reported strength levels above 400 MPa. The portfolio also features ultra-high-strength materials with maximum reported strength reaching 621 MPa.

For applications requiring higher thermal conductivity, CNPC Powder offers grades such as Scalmalloy EX and CNPC-Al0407, which provide thermal conductivity of at least 180 W/(m·K). These materials target applications including NEV components and thermal management systems.

CNPC Powder holds IATF 16949 automotive quality management system certification and SCS 100% recycled-material certification for selected alloy grades.

The company plans to continue developing its powder production processes and expanding capacity in China and overseas. Its proprietary atomisation technology will support the production of BLT-AlAM400 as the two companies work on manufacturing and international sales of the aluminium alloy powder.