BIT and Tsinghua Publish in Nature: Meter-Scale Single-Crystal Titanium Alloy Additive Manufacturing

Nanjixiong learned on October 23, 2026, that a collaboration between Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) and Tsinghua University was published online in Nature on October 21, 2026. The journal also published a News & Views commentary on the work.



The researchers developed a coupled theoretical model of additive manufacturing mechanics and solidification science. They proposed a new heat-input method called the “deep-squat pulse” and revealed the dynamic stabilization mechanism of intermittent single-crystal growth under strong transient thermal cycles. The method enables low-cost, industrial-grade single-crystal additive manufacturing at meter scale, with complex geometries and across material systems, without seed crystals, stray crystals, molds, or supports.

The team printed a meter-scale Ti-6Al-4V single crystal whose high-temperature creep performance improved by an order of magnitude compared with wrought and additively manufactured polycrystalline materials. It also demonstrated single-crystal additive manufacturing of tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, and molybdenum-niobium alloys, including a lattice structure composed of complex, curved single-crystal rods. The research received support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Key R&D Program, among other funding sources.

Nanjixiong's observations

Single-crystal components are valuable in high-temperature load-bearing applications. Achieving meter scale moves additively manufactured single crystals beyond small test coupons and closer to engineering use. Extending the approach to refractory metals also provides a new forming route for aerospace and energy components.

Sources: Tsinghua University News, Nature (October 23, 2026)

AI-translated from an article by Kuaixiong on Nanjixiong, originally published on 2026-10-26. Text and images retain the original source attribution.
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