Heat-Resistant Materials for Metal 3D Printing: A Review

What is it about?

Metal 3D printing is an exciting technology since it allows for manufacturing of parts directly from a computer model. This speeds the product development process and allows for geometric part complexity not achievable through traditional methods. Metal 3D printing is therefore valuable for aerospace and other top-value industries, where demand exists for light-weight parts tolerant of elevated temperatures. Intermetallic Compounds and Ceramic Dispersion Alloys are well-suited for these applications, and this article covers the current state-of-the-art for these 3D printed materials.

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Photo by Kaspars Eglitis on Unsplash

Photo by Kaspars Eglitis on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Metal 3D printing is a fast-moving technology that will have a major impact on the future of product design due to the flexibility offered. This technology can be leveraged with the use of advanced materials. Traditional superalloys are expensive and relatively heavy, and tangible economic and product performance benefits can be achieved by replacing traditional superalloys with Intermetallic Compounds and Ceramic Dispersion Alloys in relevant elevated-temperature applications. In this article, technical information is provided regarding strengthening mechanisms and tables are provided describing the mechanical properties of these materials.

Perspectives