An international joint research team consisting of the University of Birmingham, Stockholm University of Sweden and Zhejiang University of China has developed a new technology for 3D printing of stainless steel parts that combines both high strength and high ductility.

    The inability to have both high strength and high ductility is a major weakness in previous 3D printed metal parts, but the team overcomes this technical bottleneck. They said the new 3D printing process, published as a research paper in Materials Today, marks an important step toward using 3D printing as a mainstream manufacturing tool.

    "Our research shows that 3D printing can print solid shapes that were previously unavailable, and this technology gives researchers a whole new tool to design new alloy systems with super-mechanical properties," said a Ph.D. student at the University of Birmingham. It helps metal 3D printing into areas where mechanical performance is critical, such as the aerospace and automotive industries. "