Study on the flowability of TC4 Alloy Powder for 3D Printing

2018 International Conference on Advanced Electronic Materials, Computers and Materials Engineering

材料科学;无线电电子学;计算机科学

Yun, Huang^1 ; Dong, Lu^1 ; Wang, Wu^1 ; Bing, Zhong^1 ; Xiangyun, Lu^2

Chengdu Advanced Metal Materials Industry Technology Research Institute Co Ltd, No.1509, Xiangdao Street, Chengxiang Town, Qingbaijiang District, Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China^1

Freeman Technology Ltd, Unit 512, Huana Business Center, No. 1733 Lianhua Road, Shanghai, China^2

关键词: Dynamic performance;    Dynamic rheological properties;    Effect of vibration;    Inert gas atomization;    Large particle sizes;    Particle size composition;    Powder compressibility;    Powder flowability;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/439/4/042006/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1757-899X/439/4/042006

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

The flowability of metal powder is an important factor that can affect the quality of printing metal parts in powder bed, which has a significant effect on the quality of 3D printed parts. In this paper, the commercial TC4 powder prepared by plasma atomization (PA), Electrode Induction-melting inert Gas Atomization (EIGA) and plasma rotation electrode process (RFP) was used as the research object. The traditional static flow test method and FT4 powder rheometer were used to test the dynamic performance of TC4 powder. The flowability properties of powder materials are characterized by the combination of integral properties and Dynamic rheological properties to determine the more important powder flowability parameters for 3D printing and to provide a theoretical reference for the preliminary screening of powder for printing. The results show that the particle size, particle size distribution, particle surface finish and particle size uniformity have great influence on the flowability, but the effect of particle size composition on the apparent density is not a single value. The powder sample with good surface finish and uniform particle size has good flowability. The basic flow energy of the powder sample produced by PA is small, the shear stress between the powder layers is small, and it is easy to slide, but not easy to improve the flowability of powder by aeration. The basic flow energy of powder samples produced by EIGA is the highest. Powder compressibility is the worst. Its air permeability is not good, the wall friction action is small, is not easy to adhere. The effect of vibration on the flowability of powder is small. The basic flow energy of the powder samples produced by RFP is smaller because of its large particle size and better sphericity. The compressibility and permeability of the powder are better. The shear action between the powder layer and the interlayer and the friction on the wall are smaller and the relative viscosity is weaker. The powder is insensitive to the flow rate, and the effect of vibration on the flowability is relatively small.