Proterial unveils Admuster L61P powder for Additive Manufacturing
November 1, 2023
Proterial, Ltd, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, has introduced its newest Aluminium 6000 (Al6000) series alloy powder. Marketed as Admuster L61P, the powder is expected to be especially beneficial for sectors requiring lightweight and high-performance aluminium alloys.
The Admuster L61P was developed as part of a collaboration with Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR). The lab focuses on developing metal Additive Manufacturing powders and related processes for industrial applications.
The powder is based on the Al6061 alloy, a commonly used aluminium material in the aerospace, automotive, and semiconductor industries. This alloy is favoured for aviation interior parts due to its lightweight, good mechanical properties, and easy post-processing. However, its use in Additive Manufacturing has been limited due to the presence of micro-cracks in the material resulting from the manufacturing process.
Proterial and ASTAR’s SIMTech addressed this issue by enhancing the composition of the Al6061 alloy. Elemental additives were incorporated and precise guidelines were established for the elements and proportions used in formulating the alloy. This led to the creation of the Al6061-based alloy powder Admuster L61P, which showcases superior strength characteristics compared to the Al6061 alloy material, with its crack issues significantly reduced.
Proterial and ASTAR’s SIMTech aim to expedite practical applications through validation testing. They plan to do this by collaborating with industry partners in the aerospace, automotive, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment industries. They will also partner with Additive Manufacturing experts to promote the use of Admuster L61P among end-users.
Dr Sharon Nai, R&D Director, SIMTech, ASTAR, commented “Developed with the combined expertise of ASTAR’s SIMTech in Additive Manufacturing R&D and Proterial in metal powder development, this new aluminium alloy powder will be one of the many solutions from our strong partnership to address metal Additive Manufacturing challenges for impactful industry applications. ASTAR’s SIMTech looks forward to further collaboration with Proterial to continue pushing the boundaries in developing new specialty alloys for Additive Manufacturing and meeting industry needs.”
Dr Mark Y Maruno, President, Additive Manufacturing Solution CV, R&D Division, Proterial, added, “Proterial has been collaborating with ASTAR since 2018 to advance the development of innovative Additive Manufacturing materials and optimal printing processes to eliminate barriers for the industry‘s adoption of Additive Manufacturing, to achieve innovative and sustainable products. Proterial is excited to unveil this new aluminium alloy powder developed under the joint collaboration with SIMTech. Proterial and SIMTech will continue to pursue the development of innovative materials and processes tailored to the needs of various industries, contributing to the realisation of a sustainable society.”
Admuster L61P powder will be showcased at Formnext in Messe Frankfurt, Germany, which will take place November 7-10, 2023.
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