Canadian mining company Scandium Canada has completed initial 3D printing tests of two new aluminum-scandium alloy powders at McMaster University’s Faculty of Engineering. The tests utilized laser powder bed fusion technology, which uses lasers to melt and fuse metal powders layer by layer. The company reports these specialized alloys may help reduce solidification microcracks during the printing process.
The test pieces were printed alongside samples using standard commercial alloys for comparison purposes. Scandium Canada plans to evaluate the mechanical properties of these specimens over the next two months, including testing both heat-treated and untreated versions of the materials.
The development comes after Scandium Canada filed provisional patent applications for the two alloy formulations with the US Patent and Trademark Office in September 2024. The company aims to market these materials to industries requiring rapid adoption of new solutions, particularly in sectors where traditional aluminum 7075 alloys are currently used.
Technical data suggests that adding just 0.4% scandium to aluminum alloys can increase strength by up to eight times. This property makes these materials particularly relevant for aerospace applications, where they could potentially replace traditional riveted construction methods. Boeing has estimated that using aluminum-scandium alloys could reduce manufacturing costs by up to $3 million per aircraft.
The company, currently valued at C$6.3 million, has begun approaching potential users interested in independent testing of 3D-printed parts made with these new alloys. Target industries include aerospace, automotive, and military applications, where the materials could be used in components such as aircraft wings, fuselage elements, and mechanical parts.
Source: mining.com.au
