Aluminum Association introduces ¡°purple sheets", an aluminium alloy designation system for 3D Printing

The Aluminum Association has released its first new material registration record in nearly 20 years. The record called “purple sheets” will provide chemical designations for aluminium powder used in 3D printing or additive manufacturing. The purple sheets are addition to its “rainbow sheet” series, which provides aluminium alloy designations. Aluminum is the first materials industry to develop such a system for 3D printing.

The Association granted its first registration for a high-strength aluminium alloy produced by HRL Laboratories.  The company makes aluminium alloy powder and then 3D print the alloys.

“The purple sheets are a true game-changer for the aluminum industry,” said Jerome Fourmann, global technical director at Rio Tinto Aluminum and chairman of the association’s Technical Committee on Product Standards. “For the first time ever, a materials industry has developed a designation system specific to additive manufacturing, opening tremendous growth potential through standardization.”

A recent market research report projects that the 3D printing using aluminium powder could grow to be a US$300 million industry in next 10 years due to growing demand from aerospace, automotive, energy transmission and consumer industries.

“For decades, the Aluminum Association’s alloy and temper designation system has helped companies to gain wider acceptance in commercial applications – promoting the material’s use in the marketplace,” said Heidi Brock, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association. “The purple sheets are the next chapter in that story as we look toward a future of aluminum in additive manufacturing and 3D printing.”

Aluminum Association has so far registered well more than 500 aluminium alloys in last 60 years, from 75 when the “rainbow sheet” program started.  The association will publish the purple sheets by the end of 2019 and individuals and organizations interested in including their products in the inaugural publication can register for the program. 

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