With the help of 3D printing, NASA has developed a new metal alloy that promises to change the strength of spacecraft and the design of rocket engines. The reason for the GRX-810, which can withstand temperatures up to 1,100 degrees Celsius, is more malleable and 1,000 times more durable than the top metal alloys we use today.
NASA scientists have been able to do this by using computer models to determine its composition, and by using 3D printing, they have been able to place oxides in specific locations with nanometer accuracy, dramatically improving its strength. In fact, it took only 30 simulations to find this optimal composition.
Note, however, that “a thousand times stronger” does not mean 1,000 times stronger metal, but that the metal has a longer lifespan as it can withstand heat and mechanical stress better. In terms of fracture, it is twice as strong and 3.5 times more elastic in bending and stretching than the existing alternatives.
The applications are endless. For example, if used in a jet engine, increased temperature resistance translates into improved consumption and lower operating and maintenance costs. It will also help designers, offering performance improvements with different designs that until now they did not dare to imagine. Of course, as with anything developed for use in space, this material will in future be used in consumer goods, such as cars or cell phones.
We can now produce new materials faster and with better performance than in the past. What used to take years of trial and error now takes a few weeks.
