New AI-Sc welding wire for the emerging Australian Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing Sector

Breakthrough welding wire composite

Challenge

Wire Additive Manufacturing (WAM^®) is a patented 3D metal printing technique that combines an electric arc with certified welding wire, as feedstook, to produce medium to large scale structures. To produce high-strength parts, AML3D is looking to strengthen existing aluminium alloys which when currently used with its WAM^® technology require additional heat treatment.

Proposed Solution

Additive manufacturing technology company, AML3D, has partnered with Deakin University’s Institute for Frontier Material to develop new high strength aluminium-scandium welding wire for use with its patented (WAM^®) technology.

Over the course of 12 months, researchers will investigate the suitability of scandium as a strengthening element for existing welding wire and then develop new alloy composites to be trialled in different industry use cases. The aim of the project is to develop a commercially viable aluminium-scandium composite that will not require age hardening heat treatment and can be used to create high strength, corrosion resistant WAM^® structures.

The success of the project will provide not only a competitive advantage for AML3D and its WAM^® technology but also create new opportunities for Australia’s resource and welding wire sector with aluminium and scandium being converted into a value-add product.