Additive manufacturing – development of processes and materials

The project is financed with 32 MSEK during 2016-2020 by the Swedish foundation for strategic research (SSF). The project aims to bridge the gap between fundamental science and production in additive manufacturing (AM). We use a combination of experimental and computational methods to reach a more fundamental understanding of the relationship between process parameters, microstructure and properties. We use alloys available on the market today and also develop new alloys for future use in AM. The principal ambition of the project is to develop and apply new processes and models to predict and build AM components with specific microstructures and properties, which can be utilised in generic industrial production.

The project includes participants with complimentary competences: Three groups from Materials Engineering, Materials Physics and Materials Chemistry at Uppsala University (UU) focus on materials design, building of AM components and materials characterization. The two groups based at Luleå University of Technology (LTU) and Malmö University (MAU) are mainly specialized in modelling AM processes but contribute also with experimental work in materials characterization. The project has a strong collaboration with industrial partners such as Sandvik AB and Exmet AB.

The project is organized into three materials-based work packages (WPs).
They are: (i) conventional alloys (Ni-based alloys and steels), (ii) amorphous alloys and (iii) high entropy alloys.

We have initiated and applied methods for rapid screening of these materials, as well as advanced characterization methods such as neutron scattering, x-ray synchrotron diffraction and atomic probe tomography to better understand the relationship between process parameters, microstructure and properties. Some examples are shown in the figures below. 

Contact person: Ulf Jansson, Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University.