| Abstract Scope |
As aluminum alloys are key materials for automotive, aerospace and other industries, attempts to build them by additive manufacturing (AM) are being done extensively. However, performances of aluminum alloys by AM are not satisfactory because of difficulty to get spherical powders, limited alloy selections and restriction of machines. Here we introduce recent developments of aluminum alloy powders for AM, which include those of spherical powders, aluminum alloys and powders for electron beam melting (EBM). Spherical aluminum alloy powders have given manufactured bodies with low porosity and high reliability. Developments of alloys for AM include a high strength Al-Mg-Sc alloy, Scalmalloy®, heat resistant alloys and alloys without strength loss by over aging of AM. Technologies for eliminating hot cracks in wrought aluminum alloys are also reviewed. Spherical powders with very low oxygen contents have realized additive manufacturing of aluminum alloys by EBM that has been thought to be difficult. |