Effect of Particle Size and Shape on Flowability of FGH96 Superalloy Powder

The effect of particle size and shape on flowability of FGH96 superalloy powder was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), laser particle size analyzer (LPSA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that the powder flowability basically presented a decreasing trend as the median diameter decreased. The Hall velocity of the five median diameter powders (50=203.9 μm, 106.3 μm, 83.2 μm, 73.8 μm, 19.9 μm) was 27.18 s/50g, 23.25 s/50g, 23.86 s/50g, 23.42 s/50g and none, respectively. The surface oxides/ hydroxide/nitride of the five median diameter powders were mostly the same, mainly including Al2O3, Cr2O3, MoO3, Nb2O5, Ni (OH)2, TiO2 and TiN. The median diameter 50, shape factors (circularity, aspect ratio, roundness, solidity) and fractal dimension were selected to quantitatively characterize particle size and shape. For the same fluctuation value of powder flowability, the roundness and solidity showed lower sensitivity. Compared with the two shape factors, the sensitivity of circularity and aspect ratio was at an intermediate level, while the median diameter and fractal dimension displayed higher sensitivity. The median diameter and fractal dimension can be used to characterize the principal variation of flowability. The circularity and aspect ratio can be utilized to characterize the variation of flowability supplementally.

Investigation of the Influence of Powder Moisture on the Spreadability Using the Spreading Tester

Moisture is often regarded as one of the main reasons for poor processability of powders using Laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) processes. To determine the influence of moisture on the spreadability, a superalloy powder IN718 commonly used for L‑PBF processes has been conditioned in two different states: once in the as-received and dry condition and once in a moist condition obtained by storing the powder for four weeks in an atmosphere containing a relative humidity of 75%. Using a self-built spreading tester and a subsequent analysis method specially developed for testing the spreadability of a powder, the differently conditioned IN718 powder batches have been investigated regarding the surface roughness and flatness of the powder layers. Additionally, the formation of empty spots between the powder particles in the top layer has been studied.

Processability of Moist Superalloy Powder by SLM

Moisture is often claimed to be one of the main reasons for poor processability of powders when using L‑PBF processes. To determine the influence of moisture on the processability, gas atomized superalloy powder IN718 has been printed in two parallel runs: once in the as-received and dry condition and once after four weeks of storage in an atmosphere containing a relative humidity of 75%. Thereby different specimens have been prepared for notched impact tests, tensile tests, roughness, and metallographic analysis. Furthermore, the chemical composition of the powder before and after the build job as well as that of the printed parts have been analysed. The results obtained with the differently conditioned powders have been compared in the end to determine the influence of humidity on the processability on IN718 powder.