While titanium has been trending in 3D printing industry from the beginning, copper has been on-demand lately. Research on new titanium copper alloy by RMIT researchers mixes the two elements. This is so as to lessen the danger of splitting and deformation.
Current titanium alloys in 3D printing usually cool and tie together in column-shaped crystals in the 3D printing procedure. This makes them prone to distortion or cracking.
It is not like aluminum or other frequently utilized metals. There is no industrial fragment refiner for titanium that makers may utilize to efficiently refine the microstructure. There is none to prevent the issues.
Titanium–copper alloy modeled with excellent features minus any particular procedure limitation or extra treatment. This is according to RMIT University’s School of Engineering’s Professor Mark Easton.
Successful experiments of titanium copper alloys for additive manufacturing could kickstart a new series of high-performance alloys. This is for aerospace apps and medical devices.
“Of particular note was its fully equiaxed grain structure: this means the crystal grains had grown equally in all directions to form a strong bond, instead of in columns, which can lead to weak points liable to cracking. Alloys with this microstructure can withstand much higher forces and will be much less likely to have defects, such as cracking or distortion, during manufacture,” says Easton.
The cooperative project included guiding researchers in the area of alloy structure and texture microstructure from RMIT University, CSIRO.
The findings of the researchers proposed similar metal mechanisms could be treated in the same manner to enhance their properties. This is as stated by CSIRO Senior Principal Research Scientist, Dr. Mark Gibson.
“Titanium-copper alloys are one option, particularly if they use of other additional alloying elements or heat treatments can be employed to improve the properties further,” he noted. “But there are also a number of other alloying elements that are likely to have similar effects. These could all have applications in the aerospace and biomedical industries.” He said.
Gibson stated that the new variety of alloys could raise the production rates of the manufacturer. As a result, this could allow for additional complex pieces to be made.
“In general, it opens up the possibility of developing a new range of titanium-based alloys specifically developed for 3D printing with exceptional properties,” he explained.
“It has been a delight, as it has been my good fortune for some time, to work on such an interesting and significant project as this with such a talented band of scientists,” Gibson added.
