Nanoparticle‐coated powders could improve mechanical properties in PBF-LB Additive Manufacturing
January 14, 2025
Researchers from the Technische Universität Braunschweig and Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany, recently published an overview on the use of nanoparticle-coated X2CrNiMo17-12-2 in Additive Manufacturing in Advanced Engineering Materials.
The coating of metal powders with nanoparticles renders the possibility to improve powder properties in metal Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB). The literature indicates that nanoparticle coatings not only improve mechanical properties of final parts, but also decrease manufacturing costs through higher process efficiencies.
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In ‘Nanoparticle-Coated X2CrNiMo17-12-2 Powder for Additive Manufacturing – Part I: Surface, Flowability, and Optical Properties of SiC, Si, and Si3N4 Coated Metal Powders’, X2CrNiMo17-12-2 coatings with silicon, silicon carbide and silicon nitride are used. Each coating contained particles ranging in size from 65-200 nm at different surface coverages (all leading to homogenous, stable coatings). The scale-up and process parameter variations demonstrate the reproducibility of the process and highlight the relevance of the processes for commercial applications.
The researchers have stated that their main finding is the fact that nanoparticle coating’s surface roughness is directly related to the powder flowability, as measured with the ring shear tester. In similar coating structures, the nanoparticle material itself can influence the flowability due its respective Hamaker constant. The reflectance of coated metal powders, however, is dependent on the reflectance of the coating, the induced surface structure, and the amount of coating, the authors stated.
The studies anticipate that an understanding of the relationships between the above properties might be translated into improvements in the use of the PBF-LB Additive Manufacturing of metal.
‘Nanoparticle-Coated X2CrNiMo17-12-2 Powder for Additive Manufacturing – Part I: Surface, Flowability, and Optical Properties of SiC, Si, and Si3N4 Coated Metal Powders’ is available here.
