EOS, the company that has coined the term responsible manufacturing solutions for industrial 3D printing, has recently added a new aluminum alloy to its portfolio of AM materials. Named EOS Aluminum Al5X1, the new material would deliver performance and material properties with a combination of high strength and elongation, around 410 MPa UTS and 14% elongation.
The material would require a single-step treatment with no HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing). 3D printed parts made from this material could be electropolished and anodized (Type II and Type III) for both cosmetic (colored) and corrosion resistant protective properties.
While EOS did not provide any cost comparison with existing materials available in the market, it claims that parts could be manufactured faster and at a total lower cost.
The potential of aluminum for metal 3D printing
As you may know, in the newly released 3D ADEPT Mag, we provided key insights into challenges and opportunities raised by aluminum materials (pp-30-32).
It’s been centuries that aluminum and aluminum alloys have been serving the needs of industries such as aerospace, automotive or packaging, due to their mechanical properties: high strength-to-weight ratio, malleability, electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance and recyclability yet the benefits one can get by processing aluminum alloys with AM are underrated, even overlooked.
With this new release, EOS brings to the table other properties we didn’t think of. In addition to its diversity of options for processing, the capability for vivid anodization in a wide range of colors does not only add aesthetic appeal, but it also opens the door to a wide range of applications in the consumer-goods industry.
EOS Aluminum Al5X1 was tested by multiple organizations including world-leading semiconductor, aerospace and defense companies. Early adopters have noted that the material’s exceptional performance combined with the competitive cost-per-part (CPP) has created a strong business case for production implementation, EOS says in a press release.
“Since early 2023, we have been working to develop Al5X1 performance data and material allowables on behalf of our prime customers. Preliminary results are very promising, and we look forward to introducing Al5X1 across our thermodynamic product lines. Developing a higher performing aluminum alloy is of critical importance not only to us, but also to the industry as a whole,” Brian Neff, founder & CEO of Sintavia, LLC, a designer and additive manufacturer of mechanical systems for the aerospace and defense industries.
For Sintavia that already has a strong record for the production of highly complex components such as heat exchangers, an improved electrical isolation and surface emissivity in an aluminum material become new factors they can capitalize on.
EOS Aluminum Al5X1 for the EOS M 290 will be commercially available in November 2023, followed by commercial availability for the EOS M 400-4 in 2024.
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