Engineers at RMIT University in Australia have created a novel titanium alloy for 3D printing that is around 29–33% cheaper to produce than traditional Ti 6Al 4V, primarily by replacing costly vanadium with more affordable, widely available elements. This new formulation not only reduces manufacturing costs but also delivers enhanced strength, ductility, and performance, thanks to a uniform, equiaxed grain structure-solving the uneven mechanical weaknesses seen in conventional columnar-structured prints. The research, detailed in Nature Communications, includes an innovative design framework for predicting and controlling grain structure, representing a significant leap forward in additive manufacturing.
