A UK-based producer of metal powders for 3D printing and other manufacturing technology, Metalysis, has announced a partnership for making aluminium-scandium alloys. When combined with aluminium, the metallic element gains benefits like high strength to weight ratio that makes it suitable for aerospace and automotive applications.
The world produces around 10 tonnes of scandium per year while the demand for the metal is about 50% higher than that making it a very expensive material. Through this partnership, Metalysis aims to “aid in resolving cost constraints encountered in manufacturing aluminium-scandium alloys” through its patented Fray, Farthing, Chen (FFC) technique.
The opening of Metalysis’s specialist Materials Discovery Center revealed about its powdered metal processes to the 3D Printing Industry. The basic fact that differentiates FFC from other powdered metal production is that it extracts metal alloys from oxides rather than the expensive metals.
The company which has signed a partnership with Metalysis has not disclosed its details, but the release specifies its international operations. The research & development programme says that the companies will work together to create a “scandium-rich feedstock addition, supporting master alloy production.”
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Commenting on this partnership, Metalysis CEO Dion Vaughan says,
“If Metalysis’ process can contribute to traversing processing issues which pose historic barriers to creating a wider competitive market for aluminium-scandium alloys for 3D printing, it will be a technological breakthrough of revolutionary proportions for our company, our project partner and for end-users.”
The use of the metal powders depends upon the size of its particles. Metalysis R&D team has confirmed that they will produce aluminium-scandium alloy powder refined for use in 3D printing industry.
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