Applications

Application of the Month: 3D Printed Titanium Tank from South Korean Consortium

A group of South Korea’s leading companies and research institutions is driving a major breakthrough in space technology. The Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), KP Aero Industries, AM Solutions, and Hanyang University hav

Titanium Tank
3Dnatives

A group of South Korea’s leading companies and research institutions is driving a major breakthrough in space technology. The Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), KP Aero Industries, AM Solutions, and Hanyang University have partnered on an ambitious project to advance additive manufacturing for the aerospace sector. Their goal is to produce high-pressure titanium tanks, which are essential components for launch vehicles and satellites, using additive manufacturing. The team recently reached a significant milestone by successfully manufacturing and demonstrating the reliability of a fully 3D printed titanium tank, setting the stage for future innovations in spaceflight hardware.

The goal of the project was to demonstrate the feasibility and resilience of a 3D printed space tank under realistic conditions. The resulting cryogenic tank, made of titanium, measures 640 mm in diameter and has a capacity of 130 liters. To test its performance under extreme conditions, the tank was deep-frozen and subjected to a cryogenic pressure test – with impressive results: the test was a complete success. The tank can withstand 330 bar of internal pressure at –196 °C, cooled by liquid nitrogen. This represents the world’s first successful test of a 3D printed high-pressure vessel under such extreme conditions.

The cryogenic pressure test (left) and a pressure test at room temperature (right)

DED and Two Hemispheres

KITECH assumed responsibility for the additive manufacturing process, using DED (Directed Energy Deposition) technology, which deposits titanium material layer by layer and simultaneously melts it. The production process involved two hemispherical titanium halves, which were welded together to form a monolithic tank after precise heat treatment and machining. Real-time monitoring enabled the precise implementation of optimized deposition paths – a key to the achieved geometric accuracy and mechanical integrity.