ASTM announces maraging steel standard for PBF-LB Additive Manufacturing
June 1, 2023
ASTM International, headquartered in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA, announced that its Additive Manufacturing technologies committee (F42) has developed a new standard specification for maraging steel processed by Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB). The standard, currently WK82609, will soon be published as ASTM F3607 in the ‘Annual Book of ASTM Standards’.
Maraging steel is a class of precipitation-hardened steel strengthened through aging heat treatment. Its properties useful for automotive, sporting goods, aerospace, and other industries.
This specification is intended for the use of purchasers and/or producers of additively manufactured maraging steel parts for defining the requirements and ensuring part properties. Users are advised to use this specification as a basis for obtaining parts that will meet the minimum acceptance requirements established and revised by consensus of committee members.
“Maraging steel has high strength and toughness without losing ductility, weldability, and dimensional stability,” stated David Rosen, ASTM member and principal scientist at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research.
“If maraging steel is used to replace lower grade steels, resulting parts may be lighter and stronger, which can have positive benefits on fuel efficiency of cars and airplanes, for example.”
F42 was formed in 2009 with over 150 members. The committee meets twice a year attending two days of technical meetings; its current membership is in excess of 725, with eight technical subcommittees.