Review of high-strength aluminium alloys for additive manufacturing by laser powder bed fusion

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is one of the major additive manufacturing techniques that industries have adopted to produce complex metal components. The scientific and industrial literature from the past few years reveals that there is a growing demand for the development of high-strength aluminium alloys for LPBF. However, some major challenges remain for high-strength aluminium alloys, especially in relation to printability and the control of defects. Possible strategies that have been identified to achieve high strength with printability include the adaptation of existing high-strength cast and wrought alloys to LPBF, the design of new alloys specifically for LPBF, and the development of aluminium-based…