A research team led by Dr. Jeong Min Park at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) has developed a new high-performance metal 3D-printed alloy tailored for space environments. By adding a small amount of carbon to CoCrFeMnNi alloy and using the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) method, the team achieved exceptional mechanical performance at extreme cryogenic temperatures. The alloy demonstrated a combination of high tensile strength and ductility, making it ideal for space exploration and other extreme environment applications. The technology offers a potential guideline for alloying design in additive manufacturing to produce high-performance products with excellent load-bearing capacity in cryogenic conditions.
This new technology can be applied to complex components used in space exploration such as injectors and turbine nozzles, enhancing performance and extending the lifespan of parts. Dr. Jeong Min Park stated that this research presents a significant breakthrough in developing new alloys for extreme environments, offering new possibilities for improving the performance of parts used in space launch vehicles. The research, funded by KIMS, was published in the high rank SCIE journal “Additive Manufacturing” and the team plans to further study commercialization potential and performance verification in extreme environments.
KIMS is a non-profit government-funded research institute specializing in materials technologies in Korea, contributing to Korean industry through R&D, inspection, testing, evaluation, and technology support. This innovative research showcases the capability of Korean scientists and engineers in advancing materials science for space exploration and other extreme environment applications.
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