Mingliang Wang

Lightweight metals for additive manufacturing remain constrained by limited strength-ductility synergy, restricting their use in high-performance structural applications. Here we report a design strategy for additively manufactured alloys based on ductile-transformable eutectic nano-skeletons (DT-ENS) enabled by non-equilibrium solidification. In a near-eutectic Al-Er system, we develop an alloy family containing a deformable Al₃(Er,Mg) nano-skeleton as the primary strengthening architecture. Site-specific atomic substitution and long-range chemical ordering within the Al₃(Er,Mg) skeleton are associated with deformation twinning and the strain-induced formation of 9R-type long-period stacking ordered structures, which enhance work-hardening of the skeleton and promote cooperative deformation with the α-Al matrix. Laser powder bed fusion yields Al-Er alloys with strengths of 600-700 MPa, together with good printability and useful ductility. These findings establish a new benchmark for structural additively manufactured aluminium alloys, provide a route for developing ductile intermetallics to overcome the strength-ductility trade-off in high-strength aluminium alloys, and demonstrate the role of additive manufacturing in uncovering new alloy systems and deformation mechanisms.

Metallic materials typically experience significant strength degradation at elevated temperatures. Traditional strengthening methods, which rely on thermally stable particle dispersion, exhibit limited effectiveness owing to the challenges in suppressing thermally activated dislocation motion. This work introduces a strategy for achieving exceptional high-temperature strength through a thermally stable nanoscale eutectic cellular network (ECN) enabled by additive manufacturing. A near-eutectic AlLaScZr alloy is developed for laser powder bed fusion, incorporating an Al-La nanoscale ECN and dense intracellular nanoprecipitates. This alloy demonstrates excellent printability and remarkable high-temperature yield strength above 0.6T_m (~250 MPa at 300 °C), outperforming conventional aluminium alloys by 2–5 times with minimal degradation after prolonged annealing. Compared with the conventional configuration of particle dispersion, the nanoscale ECN architecture enhances load-bearing capacity and strengthens aluminium by caging dislocation motion within ultrafine cells (~200 nm), effectively mitigating intrinsic high-temperature softening.

As space missions become increasingly complex, protection against high-energy charged particles has emerged as a critical factor for the safe operation of spacecraft. These electrical particles, including protons and electrons, can penetrate spacecraft structures and cause severe damage to internal components. Therefore, this review discusses the characteristics of the high-energy charged particle environment in Earth orbits. Accordingly, various passive shielding materials have been evaluated, highlighting their advantages, disadvantages, and applicability in different orbital environments. Specifically, the importance of optimizing shielding materials and structures to enhance the radiation resistance of spacecraft has been emphasized. Furthermore, advancements in passive shielding materials for high-energy charged particles in Earth orbit over the past few years have been examined. Finally, future research directions have been proposed, including the development of lighter and more efficient shielding materials, the optimization of multi-layer shielding structures, and the integration of passive shielding with other protective technologies.

Metallic materials typically experience significant strength degradation at elevated temperatures. Traditional strengthening methods, which rely on thermally stable particle dispersion, exhibit limited effectiveness owing to the challenges in suppressing thermally activated dislocation motion. This work introduces a novel strategy for achieving exceptional high-temperature strength through a thermally stable nanoscale eutectic cellular network (ECN) enabled by additive manufacturing. A near-eutectic AlLaScZr alloy is developed for laser powder bed fusion, incorporating an Al-La nanoscale ECN and dense intracellular nanoprecipitates. This alloy demonstrates excellent printability and remarkable high-temperature yield strength above 0.6 T _m (~ 250 MPa at 300°C), outperforming conventional aluminium alloys by 2–5 times with minimal degradation after prolonged annealing. Compared with the conventional configuration of particle dispersion, the nanoscale ECN architecture enhances load-bearing capacity and strengthens aluminium by caging dislocation motion within ultrafine cells (~ 200 nm), effectively mitigating intrinsic high-temperature softening. The proposed transformative approach paves the way for designing next-generation heat-resistant alloys, unlocking new possibilities for additive manufacturing in high-temperature applications.

As a new alloy manufacturing method that can break through the limitations of molds to manufacture fine parts, laser powder bed fusion has recently become a common process for producing aluminum alloys. In the fields of aerospace or automotive, aluminum alloys with both good printability and good mechanical performance in high-temperature conditions are greatly demanded, and the Al-Ce alloy is one of the alloys with significant potential. Therefore, systematic research on the additive manufacturing of Al-Ce alloys is still being explored. Herein, we review the recent progress and current status of laser powder bed fusion-produced Al-Ce alloys, giving our opinions on the development of this alloy system. Element composition, alloy powders, laser powder bed fusion parameters, microstructures, and mechanical properties at room temperature and high temperatures are summarized. The choice of alloying strategies is crucial for a specific mechanical improvement of the Al-Ce alloys. Finally, the details of the Al-Ce alloys manufactured via laser powder bed fusion are presented.