Aluminum alloys have high strength-to-weight ratios, excellent thermal properties, and low material costs. These properties pair well with new laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) technology, which allows parts to be produced with novel geometries that are impossible with conventional manufacturing techniques. While casting alloys (A360, AlSi10Mg) can be produced with strength comparable to 6061, there are few examples of alloys exceeding 7xxx strength levels. The L-PBF technology can provide advantages to the manufacturing of aluminum alloys. New AM aluminum alloys are being developed for L-PBF. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of public data to help the adoption of these new Aluminum additive manufacturing materials. The research defined here will investigate the thermal treatments and service temperature effects of three new Al alloys processed in the EOS M290, SLM M280, and Renishaw 250 L-PBF systems.
Posting date: Tue, 11/12/2024
Award start date: Sun, 09/01/2024
Award end date: Tue, 08/31/2027