Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) has introduced the BLT-Ti₂AlNb powder, a new material specifically designed for additive manufacturing. This powder is aimed at meeting the high demands of aerospace and automotive applications, where high-temperature performance, lightweight properties, and structural integrity are critical.
The BLT-Ti₂AlNb powder is praised for its high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent high-temperature performance, and superior resistance to oxidation and corrosion. Its lightweight nature and good creep resistance make it ideal for applications in aerospace and automotive industries, promising enhanced performance and efficiency.
Traditional methods of producing Ti₂AlNb parts have faced challenges due to the alloy’s poor room temperature plasticity and thermal deformability. However, Bright Laser Technologies highlights that the rapid development of additive manufacturing technology presents a new pathway to overcome these challenges. Bright Laser Technologies employs advanced inert gas atomization technology to produce this powder, coupled with optimized powder processing techniques that significantly reduce the occurrence of satellite powder. This ensures the consistent mass production of high-quality BLT-Ti₂AlNb powder.
The nominal chemical composition of BLT-Ti₂AlNb powder is Ti-22Al-25Nb, with a product specification of 15-53μm. The BLT-Ti₂AlNb alloy exhibits excellent properties at both room and high temperatures, including low density and high-temperature oxidation resistance. It can sustain extended use at temperatures ranging from 800℃ to 900℃. After heat treatment, parts produced from BLT-Ti₂AlNb powder achieve impressive mechanical properties, with a tensile strength of 250-270 MPa, yield strength of 140-160 MPa, and elongation of 38.8%-42.8% at a high temperature of 900℃.
To demonstrate the material’s capabilities, BLT has produced a sample of a flow channel using BLT-Ti₂AlNb material. This sample represents a typical structure of an actively cooled liquid engine, featuring dozens of rectangular flow channels designed into the inner and outer walls of the part. The structure is compact, with the thinnest wall being only 1mm thick, showcasing the selective laser melting (SLM) forming capability of BLT-Ti₂AlNb material.
Bright Laser Technologies has meticulously optimized process parameters, including scanning speed, laser power, scanning spacing, and preheating temperature, to determine a suitable process window for the preparation of Ti₂AlNb-based alloy components. These refined parameters are now applicable across all models of BLT’s commercially available equipment, enabling the production of dense, crack-free parts with consistent quality.
The development of Ti₂AlNb materials has garnered significant global attention in recent years. Despite this, there have been few reports on the successful production of Ti₂AlNb parts using additive manufacturing technology, with related research still in its early stages. Bright Laser Technologies achievement in mass-producing high-quality BLT-Ti₂AlNb powder will not only advance research into additive manufacturing processes, microstructures, and properties of Ti₂AlNb but also promote the large-scale engineering application of Ti₂AlNb parts.
Company Press Release : BLT
