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Moisture in Metal Powder and Its Implication for Processability in L-PBF and Elsewhere

Feuchtigkeit im Metallpulver und ihre Auswirkungen auf die Verarbeitbarkeit in L-PBF und anderen Prozessen

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Abstract

The impact of moisture on flowability and spreadability is discussed. More notably we also present research on the impact of moisture on built nickel-base material. One lot of a newly opened Hastelloy X (HX) L‑PBF powder was split into two equal batches. One batch was moisturized using a programmable climate chamber, the other was untreated. We built bars with both batches for mechanical testing, in an EOS M100, with a cold build plate. The moisture content of the two powder batches, before and after the build-jobs, were determined using Karl Fischer titration (KF). Regarding the periodical monitoring of moisture content, it is not needed according to the findings of this paper. More moisture contributes to a slightly higher O‑content in the built material, and in turn, a very slight reduction in impact toughness. If a newly purchased powder exhibits poor flowability or high oxygen content, the analysis using oven-desorption followed by KF is recommended. If the moisture content is high, a drying of the powder is recommended.

Zusammenfassung

Der Einfluss von Feuchtigkeit auf die Fließfähigkeit und Verteilbarkeit wird diskutiert. Insbesonders präsentieren wir unsere Forschung zum Einfluss von Feuchtigkeit auf mittels L‑PBF gefertigtes Nickel-Basis-Material. Eine Charge von frisch geöffnetem Hastelloy X (HX) L‑PBF Pulver wurde in zwei gleiche Proben geteilt. Eine Probe wurde mittels einer programmierbaren Klimakammer befeuchtet, während die andere Probe unbehandelt blieb. Aus beiden Pulverproben haben wir in einer EOS M100-Maschine unter Verwendung einer kalten Bauplatte Probestäbe zur mechanischen Prüfung hergestellt. Der Feuchtigkeitsgehalt beider Pulverproben vor und nach den Bauprozessen wurde mittels Karl Fischer Titration (KF) bestimmt. Gemäß den Ergebnissen dieses Beitrags ist eine regelmäßige Überprüfung des Feuchtigkeitsgehaltes nicht erforderlich. Mehr Feuchtigkeit trägt zu einem leicht erhöhten Sauerstoffgehalt im mittels L‑PBF hergestellten Material bei, welcher seinerseits die Kerbschlagzähigkeit leicht reduziert. Bei Verdacht auf Beeinflussung eines neu erworbenen Pulvers wird eine Analyse mittels Ofendesorption und anschließender Karl Fischer Titration empfohlen.

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Acknowledgements

This work was made possible by financial support from the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova), project number 2017-01265 and 2019-01087.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swerim AB, Kista, Sweden

    Pelle Mellin, Markus Uhlirsch & Annika Strondl

  2. Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Masoud Rashidi, Marie Fischer & Lars Nyborg

  3. KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

    Lorenzo Marchetti & Christopher Hulme-Smith

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  1. Pelle Mellin
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  2. Masoud Rashidi
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  3. Marie Fischer
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  4. Lars Nyborg
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  5. Lorenzo Marchetti
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  6. Christopher Hulme-Smith
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  7. Markus Uhlirsch
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  8. Annika Strondl
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Correspondence to Pelle Mellin.

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Mellin, P., Rashidi, M., Fischer, M. et al. Moisture in Metal Powder and Its Implication for Processability in L-PBF and Elsewhere. Berg Huettenmaenn Monatsh 166, 33–39 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00501-020-01070-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00501-020-01070-2

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