A new research from National University of Science and Technology MISiS suggests that aluminium composites could be enhanced to the quality of titanium alloys and used in the aerospace industry. They have claimed to find a way to double the strength of composites obtained by 3D printing from aluminium alloy powder.
Titanium is used in heavy duty metal alloy applications like aerospace and spacecraft application as the metal is about six times stronger than aluminium. Researchers consider aluminium to be an apt alternative to titanium because it is lightweight with a density of 2700 kg/m3 which is 1.7 times less dense than titanium. It is also much more mouldable, making it suitable for 3D printing.
The researchers have developed a new composite that maintains the lightweight of aluminium while significantly improving its strength. The did this by developing new modifying-precursors for 3D printing based on nitrides and aluminum oxides.
“We have developed a technology to strengthen the aluminum-matrix composites obtained by 3D printing, and we have obtained innovative precursor-modifiers by burning aluminum powders,” Alexander Gromov, head of the research group, said in a statement.
“It is the special properties and structure of the surface that allows the particles to be firmly attached to the aluminum matrix and, as a result, [doubles] the strength of the obtained composites,” he added.
For the last two decades, moulding was considered the only cost-effective way to manufacture bulk products.
Researchers believe that 3D printing technology could be a more effective process than moulding for producing metals. Additive technologies can create more difficult forms and designs at a cheaper cost in 3D printers.
The researchers are currently testing prototypes of the composites.
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