Assessing the robustness of powder rheology and permeability measurements

Abstract

Powder metallurgy processes rely on powder flowability. However, flowability is not an intrinsic property and depends on the measurement conditions. Standards have been developed to adjust measurement methods to various flow conditions but there is presently questions whether current methods are adapted to the specific requirements of powder bed additive manufacturing. Rheology has been used to assess powder flowability but there is still limited information available on the robustness of the method. This paper presents the flow characteristics measured in five laboratories with a powder rheometer. Attempts were made to understand the sources of intra and inter laboratory variations and find ways to reduce them. The variations do not seem to be associated with sampling or environmental conditions. Experimental setup, calibration and/or the modification of the powder during handling could be associated with the variations observed. However, additional tests would be required to confirm the sources and improve the repeatability of the measurements.