Metal additive manufacturing (AM) has transformed conventional manufacturing processes by offering unprecedented opportunities for design innovation, reduced lead times, and cost-effective production. Aluminum alloy, a material used in metal 3D printing, is a representative lightweight structural material known for its high specific strength and corrosion resistance. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for 3D printed aluminum alloy components across industries, including aerospace, transportation, and consumer goods. To meet this demand, research on alloys and process conditions that satisfy the specific requirement of each industry is necessary. However, 3D printing processes exhibit different behaviors of alloy elements owing to rapid thermal dynamics, making it challenging to predict the microstructure and properties. In this study, we gathered published data on the relationship between alloy composition, processing conditions, and properties. Furthermore, we conducted a sensitivity analysis on the effects of the process variables on the density and hardness of aluminum alloys used in additive manufacturing.

This study investigates the interfacial reaction between powder-metallurgy high-entropy alloys (HEAs) and cast aluminum. HEA pellets are produced by the spark plasma sintering of Al0.5CoCrCu0.5FeNi HEA powder. These sintered pellets are then placed in molten Al, and the phases formed at the interface between the HEA pellets and cast Al are analyzed. First, Kirkendall voids are observed due to the difference in the diffusion rates between the liquid Al and solid HEA phases. In addition, although Co, Fe, and Ni atoms, which have low mixing enthalpies with Al, diffuse toward Al, Cu atoms, which have a high mixing enthalpy with Al, tend to form Al–Cu intermetallic compounds. These results provide guidelines for designing Al matrix composites containing high-entropy phases.

Effects of Sc addition on microstructure, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of the as-cast and as-extruded Al-2Zn-1Cu-0.3Mg-xSc (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5 wt%) alloys are investigated. The average grain size of the as-cast Al-2Zn-1Cu-0.3Mg alloy is 2,334 μm; however, this value drops to 914 and 529 μm with addition of Sc element at 0.25 wt% and 0.5 wt%, respectively. This grain refinement is due to primary Al3Sc phase forming during solidification. The as-extruded Al-2Zn-1Cu-0.3Mg alloy has a recrystallization structure consisting of almost equiaxed grains. However, the asextruded Sc-containing alloys consist of grains that are extremely elongated in the extrusion direction. In addition, it is found that the proportion of low-angle grain boundaries below 15 degree is dominant. This is because the addition of Sc results in the formation of coherent and nano-scale Al3Sc phases during hot extrusion, inhibiting the process of recrystallization and improving the strength by pinning of dislocations and the formation of subgrain boundaries. The maximum values of the yield and tensile strength are 126 MPa and 215 MPa for the as-extruded Al-2Zn-1Cu-0.3Mg-0.25Sc alloy, respectively. The increase in strength is probably due to the existence of nano-scale Al3Sc precipitates and dense Al2Cu phases. Thermal conductivity of the as-cast Al-2Zn-1Cu-0.3Mg-xSc alloy is reduced to 204, 187 and 183 W/MK by additions of elemental Sc of 0, 0.25 and 0.5 wt%, respectively. On the other hand, the thermal conductivity of the as-extruded Al-2Zn-1Cu-0.3Mg-xSc alloy is about 200 W/Mk regardless of the content of Sc. This is because of the formation of coherent Al3Sc phase, which decreases Sc content and causes extremely high electrical resistivity.

In order to analyze the effect of hot asymmetric rolling on the microstructure and texture of aluminum alloy and to investigate the effect of the texture on the formability and plastic anisotropy of aluminum alloy, aluminum 6061 alloy is asymmetrically rolled at room temperature, 200 ℃, 350 ℃, and 500 ℃, and the results are compared with symmetrically rolled results. In the case of asymmetric rolling, the equivalent strain (εeq) is greatest in the upper roll part where the rotational speed of the roll is high and increases with increasing rolling temperature. The increase rate of the mean misorientation angle with increasing temperature is larger than that during symmetrical rolling, and dynamic recrystallization occurs the most when asymmetrical rolling is performed at 500 ℃. In the case of hot symmetric rolling, the {001}<110> rotated cube orientation mainly develops, but in the case of hot asymmetric rolling, the {111}<110> orientation develops along with the {001}<100> cube orientation. The hot asymmetric rolling improves the formability (r) of the aluminum 6061 alloy to 0.9 and reduces the plastic anisotropy (Δr) to near zero due to the {111}<110> shear orientation that develops by asymmetric rolling.

For the aerospace structural application of high-strength 2xxx series aluminum alloys, stress corrosion cracking(SCC) behavior in aggressive environments needs to be well understood. In this study, the SCC sensitivities of 2024- T62, 2124-T851 and 2050-T84 alloys in a 3.5% NaCl solution are measured using a constant load testing method without polarization and a slow strain rate test(SSRT) method at a strain rate of 10-6 /sec under a cathodic applied potential. When the specimens are exposed to a 3.5% NaCl solution under a constant load for 10 days, the decrease in tensile ductility is negligible for 2124-T851 and 2050-T84 specimens, proving that T8 heat treatment is beneficial in improving the SCC resistance of 2xxx series aluminum alloys. The specimens are also susceptible to SCC in a hydrogen-generating environment at a slow strain rate of 10−6/sec in a 3.5% NaCl solution under a cathodic applied potential. Regardless of the test method, low impurity 2124-T851 and high Cu/Mg ratio 2050-T84 alloys are found to have relatively lower SCC sensitivity than 2024-T62. The SCC behavior of 2xxx series aluminum alloys in the 3.5% NaCl solution is discussed based on fractographic and micrographic observations.

In this study, the whole process of 6xxx series aluminum extruded alloy for high speed train interior and exterior parts are characterized. The mechanical properties, and chemical composition of the case materials were evaluated for the 6063, 6061 and 6N01 alloy profiles and compared to the commercial materials and the evaluation results satisfied the standard. The cast product was extruded using the air slip(AS) casting method and the direct casting(DC) method and these were again heat-treated conditions with T5 or T6. The remarkable point is that the extrusion temperature and pressure of 6061 alloy were somewhat higher than those of other alloys. The reason is that 6061 alloy exhibited brittle fracture due to grain boundary segregation even at the tensile fracture surface and the fact that the product used a billet by the direct casting method instead of air slip one. The mechanical properties were evaluated for the 6063, 6061, 6N01 extruded alloys and the evaluation results were analyzed and satisfied the standard properties.

MA Al alloys are examined to determine the effects of alloying of Mg and Cu and rolling on tensile deformation behavior at 748 K over a wide strain rate range(10−4-103/s). A powder metallurgy aluminum alloy produced from mechanically alloyed pure Al powder exhibits only a small elongation-to-failure(εf < ~50%) in high temperature(748 K) tensile deformation at high strain rates( = 1-102/s). εf in MA Al-0.5~4.0Mg alloys increases slightly with Mg content(εf = ~140% at 4 mass%). Combined addition of Mg and Cu(MA Al-1.5%Mg-4.0%Cu) is very effective for the occurrence of superplasticity(εf > 500%). Warm-rolling(at 393-492 K) tends to raise εf. Lowering the rolling-temperature is effective for increasing the ductility. The effect is rather weak in MA pure Al and MA Al-Mg alloys, but much larger in the MA Al-1.5%Mg-4.0%Cu alloy. Additions of Mg and Cu and warm-rolling of the alloy cause a remarkable reduction in the logarithm of the peak flow stress at low strain rates ( < ~1/s) and sharpening of microstructure and smoothening of grain boundaries. Additions of Mg and Cu make the strain rate sensitivity(the m value) larger at high strain rates, and the warm-rolling may make the grain boundary sliding easier with less cavitation. Grain boundary facets are observed on the fracture surface when εf is large, indicating the operation of grain boundary sliding to a large extent during superplastic deformation.

The objective of this study was to develop formability evaluation techniques in order to apply aluminum sandwich panel for automotive body parts. For this purpose, formability evaluation by using FLD (forming limit diagram) was carried out in order to secure the fundamental data for the measurement of sheet metal forming and the establishment of optimum forming conditions of the aluminum sandwich panel. From the results of these formability evaluation, the formability of aluminum alloy sheet which was the skin component for the sandwich panel was higher than that of sandwich panel. In addition, the formability of sandwich sheet which was made by present study was same as that of sandwich panel made by foreign country. Also, it was found that sandwich panel made in present study could have the excellent deep draw-ability when it was compared to the foreign made sandwich panel.

In this study, the extrusion process of 6xxx series aluminum cast alloy for high speed train interior or exterior parts are developed. For casting, selection of optimum alloying elements, dissolution technology, de-gassing process, production of molds conforming to the conditions of use, development of casting process control technology for various shapes and materials are performed for the development of high-quality, high strength aluminum alloys. The development of more high farmable extruded aluminum casting alloys for interior or exterior materials has been the scope of this study. The extruded die design was performed for the 6063, 6061 and 6N01 alloy profiles and extrusion test was executed. From these results, the extrusion conditions such as extrusion pressure following as billet temperature and materials were carefully examined.

In this study, the whole process of 6xxx series aluminum cast alloy for high speed train interior or exterior parts are characterized. For casting, selection of optimum alloying elements, dissolution technology, de-gassing process, production of molds conforming to the conditions of use, development of casting process control technology for various shapes and materials are performed for the development of high-quality, high strength aluminum alloys. The development of more reliable lightweight aluminum and aluminum alloy for interior or exterior materials has been the scope of this study. The mechanical properties, and chemical composition of the case materials were evaluated for the 6063, 6061 and 6N01 alloy profiles and compared to the commercial materials and the evaluation results satisfied the standard.

This study was carried out to investigate the optimum condition of a friction stir welding process for a joint of AA2219-T87 and AA2195-T8 dissimilar aluminum alloys. These alloys are known to have good cryogenic properties, and as such to be suitable for use in fuel tanks of space vehicles. The welding parameters include the travelling speed, rotation speed and rotation direction of the tool. The experiment was conducted under conditions in which the travelling speed of the tool was 120-300 mm/min and the rotation speed of the tool was 400-800 rpm. To investigate the effect of the rotation direction of the tool, the joining was performed by switching the positions of the two dissimilar alloys. After welding, the microstructure was observed and the micro-hardness were measured; non-destructive evaluation was carried out to perform tensile tests on defect-free specimens. The result was that the microstructure of the weld joint underwent dynamic recrystallization due to sufficient deformation and frictional heat. The travelling speed of the tool had little effect on the properties of the joint, but the properties of the joint varied with the rotation speed of the tool. The conditions for the best joining properties were 600 rpm and 180-240 mm/min when the AA2219-T8 alloy was on the retreating side(RS).

The mechanical properties and microstructures of Aluminum 6056 alloys were investigated for their use in the fabrication of a piton block. The EN-AW6056 alloys exhibited a tensile strength of 375 MPa for a solution treatment temperature of 550 oC for 2 h followed by an aging treatment at 190 oC for 4 h. The microstructures of the heat treated specimen showed that the Mg2Si phase with a size of 3~5 um was dispersed throughout the aluminum matrix when the heat treatment was done. Moreover, in order to identify the forgeability of the specimen, upsetting tests were done. For up to 80 % of the upsetting ratio, the specimen maintained its original shape, and at above 80 % of the upsetting ratio, the specimen underwent crack development. The specimen was successfully forged without any defects with the examined material conditions. The material conditions together with the forging conditions are discussed in terms of the microstructures and mechanical properties.

New Al-based alloys with very high ultimate tensile strength were developed in high Al concentration range of 91-95 at.% for Al-Fe-Cr-Ti-M (M: Co and Mo) systems and Al-Fe-Cr-Mo-Ti-Co system by the dispersion of nanoscale quasicrystalline particles in Al phase. The effect of adding elements, M was discussed in the viewpoint of stability of super-cooled liquid state and formation ability of quasicrystalline phase. The P/M Al-Fe-Cr-Ti-M alloys with dispersed nanoscale quasicrystalline particles exhibited ultimate tensile strength of 350MPa at 573K and 200MPa at 673K.

Aluminum Alloys with a content of 22 wt.-% were spray formed. This alloy features by a low density and is therefore a superior material for leightweight applications. The main problem in spray forming of this type of alloy was the occurance of high porosities. First process optimizations have been performed to decrease porosity under a certain level, so that it can be closed by an extrusion process

Along with the growth of conventional ferrous powder metallurgy (PM), PM of aluminum alloys has been intensively investigated in Japan. Although rapidly solidified aluminum alloy powder was first used in the USA,/sup 1)/ commercialization for consumer market was first realized in Japan./sup 2)/ In order to achieve the viable cost-performance including Near Net Shape (NNS) formability, we developed three processes, powder extrusion, powder forging and sintering. The new powder extrusion process does not use either capsulation or vacuum degassing. The new powder forging does not need lateral flow. The new sintering process does not use liquid phase. The performance achieved by the processes is outstanding mechanical or physical properties that has potential to substitute cast iron, steel, titanium Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) or Ingot Metallurgy (IM) aluminum alloys. Cooperation with customers, powder suppliers and research associations contributed to the advancement of PM aluminum alloys in Japan.

This study is to investigate the ultimate strength and curling influence of single shear two bolted connection with 7075-T6 aluminum alloys. The validation of element analysis was verified through the comparison between test result and finite element analysis prediction and strength reduction rate by curling was estimated quantitatively. Moreover, additional parametric analysis with extended variables was conducted and the conditions of curling occurrence according to end distance and edge distance were proposed.

This study investigates the ultimate strength and curling influence in single shear bolted connection with 7075-T6 aluminum alloys using numerical approach. The applicability of finite element analysis was validated through the comparison between existing test results and numerical predictions. Curling was observed in some specimens with a relatively long end distance and reduced the ultimate strength of bolted connection. Strength reduction ratio by curling was estimated quantitatively and it is known that curling caused the strength reduction by maximum 21%.