IperionX Limited, a leading developer of sustainable materials, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), are working together to create low-cost titanium alloys for Additive Manufacturing using IperionX's titanium metal powders. The companies will collaborate at the DOE's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) at ORNL, a 10,200 m2 facility that is reputedly the nation's only large-scale, open-access user facility for rapidly demonstrating R&D manufacturing technologies and optimising critical processes.
Key objectives of the User Agreement
- Evaluation and characterisation of spherical titanium powders produced through IperionX’s technologies for use in Additive Manufacturing, including opportunities to use titanium powders to manufacture parts which currently rely on other metals, including stainless steel and aluminium.
- Demonstration that press and sinter Powder Metallurgy parts produced using IperionX’s titanium powders have equivalent or better characteristics to parts produced using industry standard titanium powders.
Developing low-cost titanium alloys for Additive Manufacturing
Initially, press and sinter Powder Metallurgy parts will be produced and tested at the MDF with the goal of validating that the components fabricated with commercially pure titanium or an IperionX Ti6Al4V alloy meet the characteristics for lightweighting for the transportation sector, including heavy trucks, aircraft components, and other transportation applications where titanium has an advantage over currently used metals such as aluminium.
The user agreement will support IperionX's ongoing project to qualify and demonstrate the performance of its titanium alloys for additive manufacturing of aerospace parts, as well as a project with the US Navy to test titanium flight critical metal replacement components for the US Department of Defense.
“We are extremely pleased to be working with ORNL. The laboratory is an ideal partner for IperionX, with expertise in Additive Manufacturing, along with a strong interest in identifying new powder feedstocks that lower costs and increase energy efficiency, particularly in transportation.”
- Anastasios (Taso) Arima, Managing Director and CEO, IperionX
He continued, “ORNL brings a knowledge base from numerous collaborations with advanced manufacturing companies, such as partnering in Volkswagen’s first US innovation hub in Tennessee to develop lighter vehicle components from composite materials and electrify vehicles, its recent work with NASA which resulted in a 3D printed thermal protection shield traveling to the International Space Station, or its 3D printing work with Boeing’s 777x.”
Arima concluded, “Both organisations share Tennessee roots, and we look forward to progressing the User Agreement and establishing a strong relationship between IperionX and ORNL.”
