A microstructure consisting of Aluminum dendrites reinforced by a continuous intermetallic network of Al11Ce3 laths.
Beautiful.
Strong.
It all started when we at VALIMET were requested to toll atomize an Al-16Ce-1Mg formulation by the team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory:
Challenge accepted.
The paper summarizing the results of their tests was recently published: “Alloy design for additive manufacturing: Continuously reinforced Al-Ce nanocomposites”.
It made the list on our Literature webpage. Find the full work here.
Alfred Amon (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), Glenn Bean (The AEROSPACE Corporation) and the other co-authors have developed and studied a far-hypereutectic Aluminum-Cerium-Magnesium alloy optimized for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF).
The other way around concept is also to be stated: the LPBF process is optimal for Aluminum-Cerium systems as rapid solidification suppresses brittle primary phase formation.
Key findings:
🏆400 MPa yield strength, 560 MPa UTS at room temperature — competitive with Al-Sc systems but using relatively lower-cost, abundant Cerium. Thermal treatment can increase the rather low elongation, 7.5%.
🧬The optimized nanocomposite microstructure consists of submicron Aluminum dendrites reinforced by a continuous Al₁₁Ce₃ intermetallic network; it proved to be stable up to 250–300 °C with excellent strength retention.
♨️The Al-Cerium systems has a thermal stability advantage: unlike Al-Si alloys, the microstructure resists coarsening thanks to the extremely low solubility and diffusivity of Cerium in Aluminum.
Congrats on the good work to the authors.
– and to our followers: more studies will follow, stay tuned.
#AM #AluminumAlloys #Cerium #Aluminum #AerospaceIndustry
Ames National Laboratory The Aerospace Corporation