[Press] KITECH-KAMIC World’s First Cryogenic Pressure Test’ Success for 3D-Printed SLV Component

5BPhoto 55D Fabricated and Tested Ti 6Al 4V Tank with Researchers Involved in the Development Project 1536x764 1

640 mm-diameter titanium high-pressure vessel passes 330 bar proof test at –196 °C
Demonstrates reliability of 3D-printed parts under real operating conditions, with applications expected in aerospace and space sectors

A joint research team from government-funded institutes, universities, and industry has successfully proven that a large-scale titanium alloy (Ti64) pressure vessel produced via 3D printing can withstand 330 bar of internal pressure at –196 °C, cooled by liquid nitrogen.
The Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH, President Sang-mok Lee), in collaboration with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, KP Aerospace Industries Co., AM Solutions Co., and Hanyang University, announced that the 640 mm-diameter, 130 L titanium pressure vessel they developed has, for the first time in the world, passed a high-pressure proof test under cryogenic conditions.

High-pressure vessels for launch vehicles and satellites are critical components for storing and supplying liquid propellants and maintaining gas used in attitude control. Titanium alloys are preferred for these vessels due to their high strength, light weight, and stable performance in extreme cold. However, conventional casting and forging methods for large titanium vessels face material supply challenges, design constraints, and escalating costs and lead times.
To overcome these limitations, the research team adopted additive manufacturing to enable unrestricted geometries, improve material efficiency, and reduce post-processing and production costs. First, Principal Researcher Hyup Lee’s team at KITECH’s 3D Printing Innovation Center fabricated the 640 mm-diameter titanium vessel using a Directed Energy Deposition (DED) process with both laser and metal wire.

By implementing real-time monitoring for precise layer-by-layer quality control and optimizing deposition paths to account for structural characteristics and thermal deformation, the team achieved both geometric accuracy and mechanical integrity in the large vessel. They then produced two hemispherical titanium halves via DED, followed by heat treatment, precision machining, and welding to complete a monolithic high-pressure vessel meeting space-flight quality requirements.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute(KARI) conducted the cryogenic test, cooling the vessel interior with liquid nitrogen at –196 °C and incrementally pressurizing it to 330 bar. Strain gauges, temperature sensors, and high-speed imaging confirmed that the vessel’s performance matched structural analysis predictions.

Dr. Lee Hyup of KITECH KAMIC stated, “This demonstration proves that large-scale additively manufactured structures can reliably withstand cryogenic and high-pressure conditions that simulate actual operating environments. It lays the foundation for widespread aerospace applications of 3D printing.”
Kim Hyun-joon of KARI added, “We will continue collaboration to perform cyclic pressure tests at operating pressures and pursue additional certifications for space-flight qualification.”

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