MIT Engineers Create Revolutionary Printable Aluminum Alloy
MIT engineers have created a revolutionary printable aluminum alloy. Using machine learning, they identified an ideal composition from just 40 possibilities. The result is a material five times stronger than traditional aluminum, withstanding temperatures up to 400°C.
The team employed laser bed powder fusion (LBPF) 3D printing to produce the alloy, leveraging its rapid cooling and solidification capabilities. This technique, combined with a higher volume fraction of small precipitates in the microstructure, contributes to the alloy's increased strength. The new alloy matches the strength of the best aluminum alloys made using traditional casting methods.
The team's machine learning-based approach significantly reduced the search space for optimal alloy compositions. They are now applying similar techniques to further optimize other properties of the alloy. The potential applications are vast, including stronger, lighter, and more heat-resistant products like jet engine fan blades.
MIT's printable aluminum alloy, developed in collaboration with universities in the US and Germany, sets a new standard for strength and heat resistance. With further optimization, it could revolutionize industries that rely on lightweight, durable, and heat-resistant materials.
