Digital Metal launches two superalloy grades for metal AM applications in extreme environments
Digital Metal AB, a Höganäs Group company headquartered in Sweden, has launched two superalloy grades for metal Additive Manufacturing, said to be suitable for use in extreme environments. The materials are DM 247, a nickel-based superalloy and DM 625, a nickel-chromium superalloy.
The company states that, although the strength and corrosion resistance of superalloys makes them suitable for use in challenging applications such as aerospace, automotive and chemical, it has been difficult to use non-weldable materials such as MAR M247 in AM, where high solidification rates and thermal gradients are inherent.
According to Digital Metal, its unique Binder Jetting technology helps to avoid most of these problems by additively manufacturing in an ambient temperature without applying any heat, followed by a separate sintering step. Sintering densification takes place without melting and with minimal thermal gradients occuring during cooling from the sintering temperature.
The DM 247 grade is said to be based on the non-weldable MAR M247, which is widely used as material for turbine blades and in other applications with elevated temperatures. DM 625 is an Inconel 625-grade material and its application areas range from chemical processing equipment to applications in the nuclear industry and aerospace sector.
“We have been receiving qualified requests for these materials from various large companies,” stated Ralf Carlström, General Manager, Digital Metal. “Many producers within the aerospace and automotive business have long been anticipating high-quality superalloys that are suitable for 3D printing. Now we can offer them the perfect combination – our unique Binder Jetting technology and superalloys that are specially developed for our printers.”
