MATERIALS: MANUFACTURING - Titanium auto parts 3-D printed from low-cost metal powders

摘要

Sterling strength-to-weight ratios and corrosion resistance make titanium ideal for building lightweight vehicles. The problem has always been cost; it takes great quantities of energy to smelt titanium, which can push material costs as much as 50 times higher than steel. So it's no wonder that use of the light metal has been limited so far to the likes of supercars. Similarly, near-net-shape powder-metal (PM) titanium parts are rare, and for the same reason; titanium powders sell for from $200-400/kg ($90-180/lb).