Aluminum Association Alloy Designation System for Additive Manufacturing and Powder Metallurgy Feedstock and Products

The Aluminum Association announced on April 15, 2019 a new alloy registration system specific to additive manufacturing (AM) and powder metallurgy (PM). The “Purple Sheets” will provide clear alloy designations and chemical composition limits for aluminum powder feedstock and products made from powder by AM and PM processes. The “Purple Sheets” are the newest addition to “rainbow sheets” series which provides alloy designations for various forms of aluminum alloys including wrought products (Teal Sheets) and cast products (Pink Sheets). As in these systems, the AM and PM alloy designation identifies the major alloying element in an AM and PM alloy , the alloy family to which the it belongs, and whether it is an original alloy or a modification. In addition, the AM and PM alloy designation system identifies an alloy composition as a feedstock or product, and product designations identify the AM process by which it was made. Since 1954, the Aluminum Association’s alloy and temper designation systems have helped companies gain wider acceptance of their products in commercial applications. The “Purple Sheets” are intended to do the same for aluminum alloy products for AM. This presentation will describe the alloy AM and PM alloy designation system and proposed systems for AM products from wire feedstock and alloy tempers.