Abstract
Metal powder has a significant influence on the quality and performance of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) processes and products. A key requirement for metal powder is to have shape and size distribution designed to have adequate flowability, packing behavior and laser absorption, as well as to fabricate parts with acceptable density, surface finish and mechanical properties. Accurate three-dimensional (3D) characterizations of powder particles are fundamental to enable relevant research, for example on powder reuse and material waste reduction in LPBF. This work studies advanced measurement approaches, based on X-ray computed tomography (CT), for the 3D geometrical characterization of powder particles. The work includes comparisons with conventional powder characterization methods, considering different materials and powder morphologies. Results show the potential of the CT-based approaches to provide accurate and complete 3D powder geometrical measurements, and to exploit the obtained results for the enhancement of surface topography analyses and LPBF development. • Accurate 3D characterizations of metal powder are fundamental to improve the LPBF process. • Comparison of characterization methods for different materials and morphologies. • X-ray computed tomography enables a complete 3D geometrical characterization of powder. • CT powder characterization is exploited to enhance surface topography analyses and LPBF development.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
