Alloys

Alloys
Rio Tinto announces first order of Revolution-Al wheel alloy
For a couple of years, Rio Tinto has been working on the development of a stronger car wheel alloy that could cut fuel consumption, improve safety and handling and, according to the company, “supersede an industry standard no one had bettered for more than four decades.” Now Rio Tinto reports that it received the first order of its so-called ‘Revolution-Al’ wheel alloy.
Additive Manufacturing
High-temperature aluminium alloy for additive manufacturing developed
In a joint effort, QuesTek Innovations LLC and the German Aerospace Centre will explore the full potential of QuesTek’s new printable aluminium alloy.  QuesTek Innovations, a leading developer of metal alloys, announced that it has developed the new aluminium alloy for additive manufacturing. This alloy is capable of high-strength performance at elevated temperatures (200-300 °C) in the as-built condition. It is believed to be the first powdered Al material to meet those requirements without the need for subsequent heat treatment. The new alloy will enable the printing of lighter-weight precision components not currently possible with traditional manufacturing methods. Examples include heat exchangers or other components requiring internal cooling channels, where such features are not viable to obtain via machining. Because of the high-temperature strength of printed components using QuesTek’s new alloy, it will also be possible to reduce weight in parts that currently must be made from titanium.