Titanium–copper alloys show promise for 3D-printed medical devices

Researchers from RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia) claim to have successfully trialed titanium-copper alloys for 3D-printed medical devices, among other applications. A team of scientists from RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia) has announced successful trials of titanium-copper alloys for 3D printing in a movement towards kickstarting high-performance alloys for aerospace, defense and medical device applications. The team reports that titanium alloys currently available to 3D print often cool and bond in column-shaped crystal during the printing process, which may lead them to crack or distort. Furthermore, commercial grain refiners for titanium are lacking, preventing manufacturers from refining the microstructure to avoid these...