Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories have shown that a new 3D printed superalloy could help power plants generate more electricity while producing less carbon.
Sandia scientists collaborated with researchers at Ames National Laboratory, Iowa State University, and Bruker Corp. on the project.
The institution said that the experiments showed that the new superalloy – made up of 42% aluminium, 25% titanium, 13% niobium, 8% zirconium, 8% molybdenum, and 4% tantalum – was stronger at 800°C than many other high-performance alloys, including those currently used in turbine parts. The team also said it was still stronger when it was brought back down to room temperature.
According to Sandia National Laboratories, the findings could have broad impacts across the energy sector as well as the aerospace and automotive industries, and hints at a new class of similar alloys waiting to be discovered. Sandia says that the superalloy development represents a ‘fundamental shift’ in alloy development as no single material makes up more than half the material.
Sandia states that the research team is interested in exploring whether advanced computer modelling techniques could help researchers discover more members of what could be a new class of high-performance additive manufacturing-forward superalloys.
