The use of 3D printing technology (also known as additive manufacturing) has developed a new type of high strength and high plasticity titanium alloy, while providing an effective solution for the long-term quality performance and waste disposal problems faced by titanium alloy industrial production.
Titanium alloys are advanced lightweight materials commonly used in a variety of critical applications. The research team's innovative findings open up potential applications for 3D printing to manufacture titanium alloys and other metallic materials, which is expected to reduce costs and improve material performance, while actively promoting a sustainable circular economy model.
Oxygen and iron are two abundant and reasonably priced elements, and can stabilize and strengthen α and β two-phase titanium alloys, respectively. The research team used 3D printing technology to successfully produce a new titanium alloy combining oxygen and iron "α-β Ti-O-Fe alloy", which is characterized by high strength and plasticity, and has excellent application potential, and can play a role in aerospace, Marine engineering, consumer electronics and biomedical equipment and other fields, helping to actively promote sustainable development. Compared with the reference material "Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy", which has been widely used since its invention in 1954, the new titanium alloy developed by the research team has better mechanical properties, in addition to good ductility, and higher strength.
Although this new titanium alloy can be produced by traditional processes such as casting, the effect is inferior and not suitable for practical engineering applications. 3D printing technology can effectively overcome the shortcomings of traditional processes and produce high-performance titanium alloys.
The new scheme proposed by the research team utilizes 3D printing technology manufacturing methods that can recover low-quality waste and effectively convert it into raw material powder for re-entry into production. In addition, the new alloy design is based on the idea of low alloying and priming, which can minimize the alloying elements. At present, the mainstream Ti-6Al-4V contains 10% alloying elements, and vanadium is more toxic, so the research team's low alloying and prime concept can bring changes to achieve sustainable development.
