World Class Material II

Important results from the project

The aim of the project was to create a high-performance light weight material with better fatigue strength, longer life cycle and production with less material consumption than conventional methods. The goal of the project was to continue working with the manufacturing technique, powder bed fusion - laser beam (PBF-LB) to achieve better knowledge of the process, and to develop a demonstrator in the form of a fiber-reinforced metal rod / plate.

Expected long term effects

The expected effect of this (sub) project was to reach a functioning process via evaluation of process parameters, coating of fibers and development of fiber and powder handling. In summary, it can be said that the results from this project show that alternative paths must be sought for the process itself, but that a clear step forward has been taken towards the sought paradigm shift regarding the construction of load-bearing structures.

Approach and implementation

Planned work packages have been followed with the addition of an additional experiment using HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressure). Methods for handling and fixing fibers and powders have been further developed. Various metal alloys have been tried. Fibers have been coated with a metal layer by means of sputtering in order to increase the resistance to laser light. Various process parameters have been tried to try to define a process window. If success was achieved with the process, a demonstrator was planned to create, however, this could not be achieved.