The operation of the Research Center for Additive Manufacturing of Metals – MAM formally started on 2023 January 1st.
The goal is to develop the additive manufacturing production chain for metallic components by tackling the technological bottlenecks still existing in each step of this chain through world-class research conducted by arrangements involving research institutes, universities and companies.
MAM’s starting operation has the participation of researchers at Institute for Technological Research (IPT), Polytechnic School-University of São Paulo, Aeronautic Technological Institute (ITA), São Carlos Engineering School-University of São Paulo, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR), Institute of Energy and Nuclear Research (IPEN), Fraunhofer Institute – IPK (Germany) and engineers at CBMM (the Niobium Company).
Under IPT leadership, MAM’s operation will be supported over the next five years by economic resources of around R$ 19 million from the STIs (representative of the use of already existing infrastructure and research capability on AM) and by financial resources of around R$ 8 million from CBMM and São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).
In addressing technological bottlenecks, the following topics stand out:
- Alloy design for processing by MA;
- Obtaining alloy powders suitable for MA processes;
- Controlling parameters for MA processes;
- Heat treatment of alloys processed by MA;
- Mechanical properties and corrosion of alloys processed by MA;
- Surface finishing of components processed by MA;
- Chemical composition/process/microstructure/property relationship for metallic alloys processed by MA;
- Computational modeling to predict microstructure obtained by MA processes.
The expansion of the set of MAM participants is highly desirable and possible at any time, allowing the scope of the research results to be broadened.
