Al SC alloy powder will become a new member of 3D printing material family
With the gradual arrival of industry 4.0 era, 3D printing has been recognized and accepted by more and more people. Whether it is industry or life, the subversion of 3D printing on traditional production mode and the release of people's imagination will redefine people's concepts of "manufacturing" and "intelligent manufacturing".
In IMTS 2016, Airbus showed the world's first 3D printing motorcycle, light rider, which weighs only 35kg and is very light. It is 30% lighter than the ordinary electric motorcycle. This motorcycle uses the scalmalloy material of apworks, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus. Scalmalloy is a scandium metal powder material.
The world's first 3D printing motorcycle
Recently, the British company metalysis announced that it will cooperate with an international company to manufacture scandium alloy. This metal element combines with aluminum to produce a positive effect, showing a high strength to weight ratio for aerospace and automotive applications. Under the new cooperation, metalysis hopes to "help solve the cost control encountered in the manufacturing of Al SC alloy" through its patented fray, farthing and Chen (FFC) powder metal process.
If the metalysis process can solve the historical obstacles that prevent a broader 3D printing aluminum scandium alloy from competing in the market, it will be a revolutionary technological breakthrough. The company with which metalysis works is still anonymous, knowing that it operates at an international level. The details of the R & D plan indicate that the two companies will work together to create "a scandium rich raw material to support the production of master alloy". The particle size determines the specific use of metal powder, and the research and development team of metallurgy confirms that they will develop an aluminum scandium alloy powder suitable for 3D printing.
With the rapid development of 3D printing technology, it also brings development opportunities and broad market space for the further application of aluminum scandium alloy and scandium series products.
