ORNL researchers used electron-beam additive manufacturing to 3D-print the primary complicated, defect-free tungsten elements with complicated geometries. Analysis was carried out at DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL. The MDF, supported by DOE’s Superior Supplies and Manufacturing Applied sciences Workplace, is a nationwide consortium of collaborators working to innovate, encourage and catalyze the transformation of U.S. manufacturing. Credit score: Michaela Bluedorn/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Power
Researchers at Oak Ridge Nationwide Laboratory used additive manufacturing to provide the primary defect-free complicated tungsten elements to be used in excessive environments. The accomplishment might have optimistic implications for clean-energy applied sciences resembling fusion power.
Tungsten has the best melting level of any metallic, making it splendid for fusion reactors the place plasma temperatures exceed 180 million levels Fahrenheit. As compared, the solar’s middle is about 27 million levels Fahrenheit.
In its pure type, tungsten is brittle at room temperature and simply shatters. To counter this, ORNL researchers developed an electron-beam 3D-printer to deposit tungsten, layer by layer, into exact three-dimensional shapes. This know-how makes use of a magnetically directed stream of particles in a high-vacuum enclosure to soften and bind metallic powder right into a solid-metal object. The vacuum surroundings reduces international materials contamination and residual stress formation.
“Electron-beam additive manufacturing is promising for the processing of complicated tungsten geometries,” stated ORNL’s Michael Kirka. “This is a crucial step for increasing using temperature-resistant metals in energy resources that may assist a sustainable, carbon-free future.”
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First 3D-printed, defect-free tungsten parts face up to excessive temperatures (2024, Could 27)
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