Additive manufacturing of binary Al-Li alloys

Laser assisted additive manufacturing using binary Al-Li with increased Li content is presented. Al-Li alloys show high potential for future lightweight constructions due to increased stiffness at decreased mass. In particular, the elastic modulus significantly increases with increasing Li content. However, up to now, precipitation of the δ-AlLi limits the Li fraction to approximately 2 wt. %. In our approach, ultrashort laser pulses are used for powder fusion yielding increased cooling rates. As a result 3D printed parts of binary Al-Li with a Li content of 4 wt. % can be successfully demonstrated for the first time.