Elaboração e análise de indicadores de patentes sobre produção de pó e ligas de alumínio utilizadas em manufatura aditiva

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) alloys for additive manufacturing (AM) present challenges such as high reflectivity, susceptibility to solidification cracking, and defect formation, which have been gradually overcome through the development of new alloys and the optimization of powder production. This study aimed to develop and analyze patent indicators on powder production and aluminum alloy development for AM, mapping the state of the art, technological trends, and key players in the field, based on data from the Derwent Innovations Index (DII) database processed with Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools in VantagePoint software. The results reveal a gradual shift from the use of conventional aluminum alloys, particularly those belonging to the 6xxx and 7xxx series, toward compositions specifically designed for AM. Modified alloys containing Ti, Zr, and Sc are particularly prominent, primarily because of their potential to reduce solidification cracking susceptibility and control defect formation during processing. Regarding powder production, gas atomization remains the dominant technology due to its high productivity, scalability, and cost competitiveness. Nevertheless, alternative approaches, including ultrasonic and centrifugal atomization, continue to attract technological interest because of their ability to produce powders with improved morphological characteristics and reduced defect populations. The geographical analysis identifies China as the leading center of patent activity, with universities and research institutions playing a major role in the development of new alloy compositions, whereas companies are more strongly focused on gas atomization technologies. The resulting indicators provide strategic support for research, development, and intellectual property protection in the sector, enabling the identification of innovation gaps and the monitoring of global competition.