On April 19, 2019, the Virginia Aluminum Association announced that it will release a "purple form" to describe the standards for aluminum powder in 3D printing.
The "Purple Form" is part of the association's "Rainbow Form" series. Each color of the rainbow table represents a different aluminum alloy and describes industry standards.
"The purple form is a real changer for the aluminum industry," said Jerome Fourmann, global technical director of Rio Tinto Aluminum and chairman of the Aluminum Standards Technical Committee.
According to a report from the U.S. Geological Survey, the value of aluminum produced in the United States in 2018 was $ 2.3 billion. 40% of the material is consumed by the transportation industry, 19% is used for packaging and 9% is used for electronics.
The Aluminum Association, through its Product Standards Technical Committee (TCPS), has been working to standardize aluminum alloys in the United States since 1954. In 1970, the association was officially recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). To date, the Aluminum Association has registered more than 500 aluminum alloys.
Heidi Brock, president and CEO of the Aluminum Association, said, "For decades, the Aluminum Association's alloys and tempering designation systems have helped companies gain broader acceptance in commercial applications-promoting the use of materials in the market."
In 3D printing, aluminum is one of the most commonly used metals in the DMLS / SLM process. Its light weight and strong mechanical properties make aluminum an ideal choice for the aerospace and automotive industries. In addition, due to the conductive properties of aluminum, this material is also widely used in electronic products.
With the growing interest in 3D printing, the need for standards has been recognized. Against this background, earlier this year, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) released a blue card recognition system for plastics for 3D printing.
Now, with the introduction of the "Purple Form", it is hoped that the field of aluminum 3D printing will change rapidly. Brock added: "The purple sheet is the next chapter in the story because we will see the future of aluminum in additive manufacturing and 3D printing."
The purple form will be released later this year. Companies can include their alloys in publications by registering with the association.