FreeThink by Sam Jarman 6/18/2023
The material is both stronger and lighter than those used to make conventional power-plant turbines. new high-performance metal alloy, called a superalloy, could help boost the efficiency of the turbines used in power plants and the aerospace and automotive industries.
Created using a 3D printer, the superalloy is composed of a blend of six elements that altogether form a material that’s both lighter and stronger than the standard materials used in conventional turbine machinery. The strong superalloy could help industries cut both costs and carbon emissions — if the approach can be successfully scaled up.
The challenge: In the world of materials science, the search for new metal alloys has been heating up in recent years. For over a century, we’ve depended on relatively simple alloys like steel, composed of 98% iron, to form the backbone of our manufacturing and construction industries. But today’s challenges demand more: alloys that can withstand higher temperatures and remain strong under stress, yet still be lightweight.
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The innovation: One promising approach is the use of 3D printing technology. This method allows researchers to control the relative proportions of different metals precisely. They achieve this by rapidly melting metals in a solid, powdered form using a powerful laser and then depositing them in thin layers.
A team of researchers led by Andrew Kustas at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, utilized this technique to develop a high-performing six-element superalloy. The alloy — made of 42% aluminum, 25% titanium, 13% niobium, 8% zirconium, 8% molybdenum, and 4% tantalum — is strong, lightweight, and incredibly heat resistant.
More:
https://www.freethink.com/hard-tech/superalloy-3d-printed
