RUSAL has announced the successful completion of an additive manufacturing cycle at the Institute of Light Materials and Technologies (ILM&T).
Active in the aluminium industry, Rusal produces metal with a low carbon footprint. 90% of the Company’s aluminium is produced from renewable electricity, which means that it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions at all production stages.
So far, the amount of €3.5 million has been invested by the company into resources and facility development at the Additive Technology Centre.
The opening of an additive powder manufacturing site and the installation of new equipment including an atomiser and a powder sizing and packaging line, made it possible for RUSAL to launch the complete production cycle at its research and development centre.
The ILM&T was founded by RUSAL in 2017 with the goal of developing, innovating and launching new varieties of aluminium-based products and materials into the market. At the new facility, the ILM&T will work on high strength and heat-resistant aluminium-based materials specifically designed for additive manufacturing, providing an entire range of turnkey services for RUSAL customers. These services range from material creation and printing technology to engineering and optimising parts for printing technologies. The new equipment also allows for the production of a significant variety of materials, due to its quick changeover capacity.
ILM&T’s current focus is on the creation of a high heat-resistant aluminium alloy, adapted for 3D printing, that will be able to perform at temperatures of up to 400°С. In 2019, the ILM&T launched a new range of unique aluminium alloys for 3D printing, which performed significantly better when compared to their analogues. These products have since been utilised in the fields of medicine, mechanical engineering and the space industry.
“In just three years at the ILM&T, we have managed to not only form a team of highly-skilled industry-leading professionals, but also to provide all the necessary resources and facilities to enable the rendering of a full range of services from research to engineering. The Institute’s specialists have successfully developed and enhanced the production of innovative solutions in the field of high strength aluminium powders for additive technologies, intended for shipbuilding and the space industry, as well as aluminium alloys with increased corrosion resistance for railway, transport and construction. Now one of the ILM&T’s biggest tasks moving forward is to achieve a significant reduction in production costs by recycling and optimising the printing process parameters. This work will make it possible to accelerate the implementation of new developments and to expand their application to more industries in the future,” said Victor Mann, Chief Technical Officer at RUSAL.
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