Amorphous metals are very elastic, light, hard, and also break-resistant. Therefore, they are perfect materials for high-tech usage. In 3D printing, these benefits can be utilized in a fully new way. Modern high-tech put huge needs on today’s elements.
For instance to create wear-resistant drive gears and pieces, steady membranes or suspensions for injection nozzles. In complex designs and very light construction techniques, old manufacturing procedures fast reach their limits.
3D printing allows the creation of tailor-made solutions that complete big amounts of new needs. Amorphous metals are varied blend attributes that have early been mutually exclusive. As a result, they become very strong and elastic as well as.
Furthermore, they have good spring attributes, are very corrosion-proof and shock-absorbing. This is because of their disorganized, non-crystalline formation. The problem in the processing and production of amorphous metals is the basis that the atoms in the melt keep their amorphous organization in solidification.
The metals are thus frozen melts, which are also called metallic glasses. “The high strength of the material makes it possible to modify the design of components and make them thinner or smaller than is possible with standard materials,” says Valeska Melde, Marketing & Sales Manager at Heraeus Amloy. A huge benefit for heavy-duty pieces that usually wear out like gear pieces.
A further advantage is the low amorphous metals density, which is beneath that of steel. This lessens weight, this among the biggest issues for discoveries in aerospace and e-mobility. “Our developments in amorphous metals are a major driver for increasing ranges in e-mobility and reducing energy costs in the aerospace industry,” stated Valeska Melde.
Apart from their low weight, amorphous metals provide another decisive benefit for the aerospace industry. They are not like other metals, they don’t become brittle at very low temperatures and are thus specifically ideal for high environments.
This is because of their high creep resistance. Amorphous metals may also be utilized to generate light, stable and small rotor elements, such as for drones.
Heraeus makes amorphous pieces through 3D printing as well. “Additive Manufacturing allows the production of larger components with complex geometries that could not be produced with conventional methods before,” states Jürgen Wachter, head of the Heraeus Amloy business unit.
