Aeromet continues development of aluminum alloy for 3-D printing

Aeromet Intl., a U.K.-based manufacturer of aluminum and cast metal parts for the aerospace and defense industries, is leading a group of companies to further develop the A20X aluminum alloy for additive manufacturing (AM).

With funding from the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Program (NATEP), Aeromet and partners Rolls-Royce, Renishaw, and PSI will work to optimize the alloy for AM as part of the High Strength Aluminum Powder for Additive Manufacture (HighSAP) project.

The aluminum-copper alloy has a highly refined microstructure and a solidification mechanism that increases its strength, fatigue, and thermal characteristics.