With the further development of additive manufacturing technology, metal 3D printing is paying attention to more and more companies. Meanwhile, metal powders have also developed rapidly. Utilizing advanced LPBF and SLM processes, metal additives are being widely used to produce high-demand industrial parts, such as petrochemical engineering applications, aerospace, automobile manufacturing, injection molds, light metal alloy casting, food processing, medical, papermaking, and electric power Industrial, jewelry, fashion, etc.
However, because of the different properties of metal powders themselves, they all have specific application fields. Therefore, the process of selecting metal 3D printing materials is a process of weighing multiple factors. Moreover, 3D printing metal cannot be measured solely by the parameters of the metal 3D printer. Each metal material has its own limit points suitable for its own characteristics, including application, function, stability, durability, aesthetics, and economy. All designers factors to consider.
The current mainstream metal printing materials include the following:
1. 316L stainless steel material
316L is a derivative of austenitic stainless steel, mainly containing Cr, Ni, and Mo, and has corrosion resistance and heat resistance. Main uses: suitable for aerospace, medical, parts molds, jewelry and watch accessories;
2. GH3536 high temperature alloy material
GH3536 is a Ni-based solid solution strengthened deformed high temperature alloy. The alloy has moderate durability and creep strength below 900°C, good oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance, and good hot and cold resistance. Processing formability and welding performance. Main uses: Suitable for manufacturing aero-engine combustion chamber components, honeycomb structures, diffusers, tail nozzles and other hot-end components that are used for long periods of time below 900°C.
3. GH5188 high temperature alloy material
GH5188 is a Co-based precipitation hardening deformed high temperature alloy. The operating temperature is less than 1100°C. It has good oxidation resistance, cold and hot processing plasticity and welding and other process properties. Main use: used to make high-temperature components such as flame tubes and guide blades in aeroengine combustion chambers.
4. GH4169 high temperature alloy material
GH4169 is a Ni-based precipitation hardening deformed high temperature alloy. The alloy has high strength below 650°C and has good fatigue resistance, oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance. Main uses: Suitable for making turbine disks, rings, blades, fasteners, etc. in the aviation, aerospace, nuclear energy and petrochemical industries.
5. CoCrMoW cobalt-chromium alloy
CoCrMoW powder is a type of cobalt-chromium alloy powder. It mainly adds elements such as Mo and W on the basis of Co and Cr elements, and contains a small amount of Si, Fe, etc., and has anti-oxidation properties. and corrosion resistance. Main uses: Mainly used in the field of medical devices, processing metal dentures and brackets, etc.
6. AlSi10Mg aluminum alloy
AlSi10Mg is a cast aluminum alloy with good processability, low density, good corrosion resistance and high thermal conductivity. It is one of the aluminum alloy powder materials currently suitable for additive manufacturing. Main uses: Automobile: engine cylinder head, intake manifold, piston, wheel hub, steering booster housing, etc. Aerospace: thin-walled parts such as heat exchangers, topology optimization structures, etc.
7. 18Ni300 mold steel
18Ni300 steel is an Fe-Ni alloy with ultra-low carbon content. Its corresponding American grade is M300 and the European grade is 1.2709. 18Ni300 steel is made of carbon-free or micro-carbon martensite. In the matrix, alloy elements such as Mo, Co, Ti, and Al precipitate alloy compounds during the aging process to form ultra-high-strength steel strengthened by the second phase. Compared with traditional steel, 18Ni300 steel has excellent weldability, thermoplasticity, and processability. It has ultra-high strength and good toughness. Main uses: Suitable for selective laser melting processing of conformal cooling runner molds such as plastic injection molds.
8. CX mold steel
Corrax (hereinafter referred to as CX) is an age-hardened stainless steel. Compared with other mold steel materials, it has the following advantages: 1. It has excellent corrosion resistance, and heat treatment has good corrosion resistance on the material. There is no major impact on the properties; 2. It still has very good dimensional stability after heat treatment; 3. The hardness range of 34-50 HRC can be reached through heat treatment. Main uses: Suitable for selective laser melting processing of conformal cooling runner molds such as injection molds, extrusion molds, and plastic forming molds.
9. TC4 titanium alloy
TC4 (Ti6Al4V) has low density, high specific strength, good corrosion resistance, excellent overall performance, and good biocompatibility. It is currently the most widely used titanium alloy material. Main uses: Aerospace field: suitable for manufacturing aircraft engine fan blades, compressor blades, aircraft frame beams, brackets, etc. Biomedical field: suitable for manufacturing artificial joints, hip joints, etc.
LUSHI engineering have a deep understanding of how to select parts that meet industrial needs, and can help customers answer their questions and quickly apply them to production.