Investigation on the effect of the gas-to-metal ratio on powder properties and PBF-LB/M processability

Abstract Metal powders for the laser powder bed fusion process are usually produced via gas atomization. However, due to tight particle size distribution required this application, yield of atomization is low, resulting in a high-powder cost. In work, parameters were varied increase gas-to-metal ratio reduce produced, and therefore process. As result, eight starting from scrap AISI 136L material at different values, was successfully increased by 50%. First, characterized terms size, shape distributions, flowability. Later, all used produce tensile specimens. The higher exhibited larger number fine particles but slightly lower circularity, particularly coarse fraction. Furthermore, high demonstrated enhanced flowing properties packing density. Consequently, these superior performance, with ultimate strength (UTS) ranging 651 673 MPa elongation values between 63 66%.