Created the first durable titanium alloy for 3D printing

High-strength alloys of titanium and copper for 3D printing can become indispensable for the manufacture of medical instruments, military and aerospace equipment.

According to hightech.plus,, modern titanium alloys, which are used in additive manufacturing, often crack or deform during 3D printing. And unlike aluminum or other common metals, there is no refining technology for titanium that avoids such problems. The solution could be an alloy of titanium with copper, developed by a group of specialists led by scientists from the Royal Technological Institute of Melbourne (Australia).

According to the head of the research team, Professor Mark Easton, the alloy has "exceptional properties" and does not require any special process control or additional processing.

“Particularly noteworthy is its completely equiaxed grain structure: this means that the crystal grains grow uniformly in all directions and form strong bonds, rather than columns with their weak points subject to cracks,” he explained. “Alloys with such a microstructure can withstand much greater loads, and the likelihood of defects like cracks or deformations is much lower.”

The new technology can be used to create other types of alloys with similar properties. All of them will increase the rate of production and allow the production of more complex parts.