High Strength, High Conductivity — Asia New Materials Unveils the Full Performance Profile of Its CuCrZr 3D Printing Alloy

October 30, 2025 — Panda3dp.com Exclusive
Panda3dp.com reports that Asia New Materials (Beijing) Co., Ltd. has recently completed comprehensive SLM (Selective Laser Melting) performance verification of its proprietary CuCrZr copper alloy powder, revealing outstanding results in both mechanical strength and thermal–electrical conductivity.

Across the metal additive manufacturing supply chain — from equipment and powder production to part fabrication — CuCrZr alloys are emerging as a material of high potential, driven by growing demand in aerospace, nuclear energy, electronics, and advanced tooling.

1. CuCrZr — A High-Performance Alloy Balancing Strength and Conductivity

CuCr1Zr (UNS: C18150; EN: CW106C; GB/T41882) is a high-performance chromium–zirconium copper alloy. By introducing controlled amounts of Cr and Zr into the copper matrix, it achieves a rare balance of:

· High strength

· Excellent electrical and thermal conductivity

· Superior wear resistance

· Outstanding resistance to high-temperature softening

These properties make it indispensable for critical applications in aerospace, nuclear, electrical, and energy systems. Additive manufacturing — particularly SLM — further expands its potential, enabling complex, lightweight, and high-performance copper alloy components.

2. Advanced Powder Engineering — Controlling Zirconium for Precision and Performance

One of the most difficult challenges in CuCrZr powder production is precise Zr content control.
Through targeted research, Asia New Materials has overcome this bottleneck, offering two optimized compositions:

· Standard CuCr1Zr: Zr 0.03–0.3%

· High-Zr CuCrZr: Zr 0.3–0.6%

Both maintain extremely low impurity levels (Fe, Si, O), ensuring high conductivity and thermal efficiency.
In addition, the hollow-powder rate is just 0.06%, reflecting exceptional sphericity and density.

The powder is compatible with multiple 3D printing and powder-processing technologies, including Binder Jetting (BJ), Metal Injection Molding (MIM), SLM, Electron Beam Melting (EBM), and Laser Cladding (LC).

3. SLM Parts Achieve Over 99.9% Density

In Asia New Materials’ latest SLM trials using red-light laser systems, printed CuCr1Zr parts reached densities exceeding 99.9%, with electrical conductivity between 23.2% and 24.4% IACS — among the best reported for additively manufactured copper alloys.

(Microstructure of as-printed sample, left; correlation between conductivity and energy density, right)

4. Post-Heat Treatment: Over 20% Elongation and Excellent Conductivity

Two heat-treatment strategies were explored: one to enhance conductivity and the other to strengthen mechanical performance.
Under the latter approach, parts achieved:

· Tensile elongation > 20% (both horizontal and build directions)

· Electrical conductivity ~76% IACS

· Thermal conductivity 325–340 W/(m·K)

The material exhibited uniform microstructure and pronounced necking during tensile testing — clear evidence of ductility and mechanical integrity.

(Images: Embedded SLM test samples and tensile specimens at room and elevated temperatures)

5. Reliable High-Temperature Performance up to 500°C

To assess service reliability, tensile testing was conducted after exposure to 500°C for two hours, followed by a 30-minute soak in air. The alloy retained high strength and >10% elongation, confirming stable performance across room temperature to 500°C — well suited for demanding thermal environments.

For applications requiring even higher service temperatures, the company recommends its flagship CuCrNb-42 alloy.

6. About Asia New Materials

Asia New Materials (Beijing) Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise specializing in spherical micro/nano metal powder R&D, production, and copper alloy additive manufacturing services.

With core expertise in advanced atomization technologies — including electrode induction gas atomization (EIGA), vacuum induction gas atomization (VIGA), plasma ultrasonic atomization, and metal vapor deposition — the company produces over 600 tons of high-end powders annually, covering copper and its alloys, titanium alloys, nickel-based superalloys, and special metals.

Its materials are widely used in additive manufacturing, laser cladding, injection molding, coating, and powder metallurgy, supporting industries such as aerospace, defense, nuclear energy, electronics, and cultural heritage restoration.

Through close collaboration with the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Science and Technology Beijing, Asia New Materials has achieved multiple breakthroughs in “bottleneck” powder technologies, including:

· Low-reflectivity, high-purity, low-oxygen copper powders

· High-melting-point second-phase strengthened copper alloys

· Exceptional batch-to-batch stability

With these innovations, the company delivers aerospace-grade materials to customers worldwide — helping propel the advancement and transformation of China’s high-end manufacturing industry.