Combining dissimilar materials into functional large-scale and light-weight components and structures
The European research project DISCO 2030 aims to develop two innovative hybrid manufacturing processes for joining different metal-metal and metal-polymer materials. Both proposed processes are based on additive manufacturing (AM) technologies from the new Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) and Directed Energy Deposition (DED) technology families.
DISCO2030 combines the advantages of PBF and DED to enable the production of lightweight components/structures made of different materials and with complex geometry that can withstand harsh environments. The processes are expected to reduce cycle time by ≥20% compared to modern techniques (e.g. die casting and brazing), reduce the weight of multi-material components by 50% and achieve 30% higher performance compared to reference products.
The three use cases to be demonstrated in the project are of great importance to the EU economy and include a rocket engine, a marine engine and a cryogenic hydrogen tank for primary automotive applications. The underlying vision is that the novel combination of AM techniques being developed under the DISCO project will become a recognised and widely used manufacturing standard in various industries within 5 to 8 years.
Project website: https://disco2030.eu
Funding frame: HORIZON EUROPE, HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space, 10.3030/101091860
