Chinese Company Vilory Claims New Titanium Alloy for High-Temp 3D Printing

Vilory Metal Powder, formerly Jiangsu Vilory Advanced Materials Technology, has introduced a new 3D printable titanium alloy, T70X, which they claim offers superior performance to Ti6Al4V, particularly at elevated temperatures. The company reports that the alloy can sustain a yield strength of at least 450 MPa at 700°C.

The near-alpha titanium alloy, T70X, incorporates elements such as Sn, Zr, Mo, Cr, Co, V, and Ni. Vilory states that this composition helps to reduce embrittlement, allowing the material to maintain its properties up to 750°C. The company suggests T70X is a viable replacement for existing high-temperature titanium powders and can outperform them at extreme temperatures. Additionally, Vilory believes T70X offers a lighter alternative to materials like Inconel, potentially reducing the weight of high-performance parts by up to 45%.

Vilory asserts that T70X is commercially available with standard processing parameters and heat treatment requirements. The company also claims to have a production-scale supply. Potential applications highlighted include hypersonic control surfaces, leading edges, and thermal shields. The material is also considered suitable for turbomachinery components such as turbine blades and compressor disks, as well as for automotive applications like afterburner heat shields where complex cooling channels can be integrated.

The company emphasizes that T70X is a production-ready material, not merely a laboratory curiosity. They state that its powder specifications meet or exceed industry benchmarks and that it offers low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) along with mid-temperature strength retention. Vilory has also validated lattice structures for this alloy family. However, the company notes that the material is not intended for corrosive environments, cryogenic applications, or medical implants.