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What is 3D Printing Metal Powder?

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Metal 3D printing (or Selective Laser melting) is a process that direct prints metal parts using metal powder. The 3D-printed metal powders must not only have small particles and tight distribution. 3D printers are made of metal powders. You can choose from stainless steel, cobalt-chromium and nickel. One of the most precious and important metals in engineering technology, iron base alloy. It is used extensively to form complex structures.
The type of metal powder used and the method of 3D printing will affect how your product performs.

Chrome Steel Powder
You can quickly and inexpensively print metal parts in small quantities.

Aluminium alloy powder
AlSi12Mg (the main aluminum alloy) is used in 3D metal print. To make powders of metal with excellent thermal properties, aluminum silicate 12 is used (lightweight addition). Aluminium alloys that combine silicon and magnesium are more strong and rigid. You can use them for complicated shapes, thin walls and areas that have high thermal properties. The most popular non-ferrous structural metal is aluminum alloy. Aluminium alloy is very malleable due to its low density, high specific strengths and being comparable or better than high-quality steel. It has been proven that 3D printing aluminum alloy produces compact parts with smaller structures than cast mold parts. Cost per piece can drop to 30% and weights can decrease by up to 22%

Cobalt chrome alloy powder
It’s useful in dentistry and is highly resistant to wear.

Copper alloy dust
The excellent thermal conductivity of copper and its high electrical conductivity makes it a top choice in thermal management. You can use it to combine design degrees for complex internal structures, as well as to provide conformal cooling routes.

Titanium alloy powder
It is widely used in aerospace. Many benefits can be derived from 3D printing. For example, 3D printing can be used to replace the solid product body by a simpler and more reasonable design. You will have lower weights and greater mechanical properties. The production cost of each piece can be reduced and the parts may also become lighter.

Nickel alloy pulver
The nickel alloy’s corrosion- and oxidation-resistant qualities make it suitable for high pressure environments and high temperatures. The alloy will heat to create an oxide layer thickened and solid. It is designed to protect nickel alloys internal from corrosion. The mechanical properties of nickel alloys are maintained at different temperatures.

Are powdered substances allowed to be used for 3D printing?
The 3D model data can be used to control laser beams of high energy to melt the matrix metal. They are then automatically stacked in layers and formed into solid parts.

3D-Printed Metal Powders
For making metal powders, solid-state is the best method.
Electrolysis is one method used by many companies to produce elemental metal particles. These methods aren’t suitable to produce alloy powders.
You can also make alloy powder using the atomization process.
Electrolysis, another way to make powdered metal metals, is also possible. According to the concentration of electrolyte, its composition, temperature and content, different metals can be either spongy-like or powdered. The electrolytes can then be rinsed, dried, and reduced until they are annealed. This method is very useful in producing pure metal powder. This process is useful for producing highly conductive copper powder.
The atomization process is a method that uses mechanical means to cut molten metal into pieces smaller than 150mm. Following the crushing of the metal melt, the atomization method includes ultrasonic, second flow and centrifugal methods as well as vacuum atomization. Each of the methods for atomization can be applied to industrial production. One of the most efficient industrial techniques for creating metal powder is water gas atomization. The process is easy and uses minimal energy.

For 3D printing, metal powder must perform according to the performance criteria
1. Purity
Product performance can be affected significantly by the presence of ceramic inclusions. Also, they have low melting points which make powder difficult to sinter. Controlling the oxygen and nitrogen levels is also important. The most common method of powder preparation is by the Atomization Technique. Due to the powder’s large surface, it is easy to oxidize. For aerospace and other special uses, customers require this index. Superalloys, titanium and other superalloys have powder oxygen levels between 0.007% and 0.013%. Powder oxygen in stainless steel can range from 0.010% to 0.025%.

2. Powders with low densities and fluidity
Powder feeding stability and uniformity are both affected by fluidity. The fluidity of powder feeding is affected by its morphology and bulk density. Fluidity will increase with increasing size of powder particles. Powders with a large volume will be more uniform in shape. You may find finer powders than you would expect. Particle density and relative densities affect the fluidity. Fluidity is affected by the way water and gases are absorbed from the surfaces of particles.

3. Powder particle size distribution
The 3D printing process, equipment and requirements for powder distribution will all have different requirements. Most powder sizes for 3D printing are between 15-53mm and 53-105mm. The size of the powder can be selected from several energy sources. Printers that use laser energy have the ability to print powder sizes between 15 and 53mm. This is due to their fine focal spot, which melts small powder. Powder-laying printers that use electron beam are better for melting powder. It can handle coarse powder up to 53 mm. The consumables can be used for coaxial feeder printing with powders ranging in size from 105 to 150mm.

4. Powder morphology
Powder making methods should be considered. Metal gas powders or molten fluid are more cylindrical than powder particles. However, powders made from molten fluid or metal gas tend to be cylindrical. Powders that have been prepared with aqueous electronlysis are often dendritic and usually have an irregular structure. A powder with a higher sphericity will have more fluidity. This allows for easier feeding and laying powder in 3D printing.

Manufacturer of Metal Powders for 3D Printers
Nanotechnology Co. Ltd., Advanced Material has more than 12 years of global experience as both a supplier and manufacturer. We offer super-high-quality chemicals, nanomaterials and graphite.
For high quality 3D printer powder please send an inquiry. (brad@ihpa.net)

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