A group of scientists from Sandia National Laboratories, Ames National Laboratory, Iowa State University and Bruker Corp., all in the USA, used a 3D printer to create a high-performance metal alloy, or superalloy, with an unusual composition that makes it stronger and lighter than state-of-the-art materials currently used in gas turbine machinery.
The findings could have broad impacts across the energy sector as well as the aerospace and automotive industries, and point towards a new class of similar alloys that have yet to be discovered.
“We’re showing that this material can access previously unobtainable combinations of high strength, low weight and high-temperature resiliency,” Sandia scientist Andrew Kustas said. “We think part of the reason we achieved this is because of the additive manufacturing approach.”
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