De-risking the powder characteristics for future advanced manufacturing processes

A GSTP activity with Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft Mbh, Germany has attempted to characterize the different metallic powders that can be using in additive manufacturing processes.

The activity was part of the GSTP De-Risk framework, which tries to advance technologies blocking larger projects.

Among the numerous variables along the whole additive manufacturing chain, PowderGenetics is a way of allowing powder materials to be measured,compared and evaluated. The first step of the activity involved procuring the different powders, which can be used in the process. Then checking that the samples which arrived matched the specifications of that procurement and had the appropriate quality. The activity was pleased to discover that most powders from external suppliers met the specifications and procurement. These were then characterised it and then used in the additive manufacturing process at the Fraunhofer Institute, where small samples were built. These samples were then studied for their microstructures, tensile, hardess testing and other material characteristics. Based on this some predictions could be made of powder characterisation, to estimate whether part would be good or bad. Such as whether the roughness or porosity of a part might be unsuitable for use in some components. The activity was also able to make some correlation between powder properties and the final parts but could not determine this extensively.

In general, the space industry will benefit from quantifiable and reproducible powder analysis methods and the resulting improvement of the print quality and a stable production process for space components.

G617-241Tach closed in 2021