Evaluation of Inconel 718 Metallic Powder to Optimize the Reuse of Powder and to Improve the Performance and Sustainability of the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) Process
In this paper, a detailed assessment of Inconel 718 powder, with varying degrees of degradation due to repeated use in the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) process, has been undertaken. Four states of IN718 powder (virgin, used, overflow and spatter) were characterized in terms of their morphology, fl...
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/6/1538 |
| _version_ | 1797540589942603776 |
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| author | Konrad Gruber Irina Smolina Marcin Kasprowicz Tomasz Kurzynowski |
| author_facet | Konrad Gruber Irina Smolina Marcin Kasprowicz Tomasz Kurzynowski |
| author_sort | Konrad Gruber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this paper, a detailed assessment of Inconel 718 powder, with varying degrees of degradation due to repeated use in the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) process, has been undertaken. Four states of IN718 powder (virgin, used, overflow and spatter) were characterized in terms of their morphology, flowability and physico-chemical properties. Studies showed that used and overflow powders were almost identical. The fine particle-size distribution of the virgin powder, in which 50% of particles were found to be below the nominal particle-size distribution (PSD), was recognized as the main reason for its lower flowability and the main cause of the differentiation between virgin, used and overflow powders. Only spatter powder was found to be degraded enough to preclude its direct LPBF reuse. The oxygen content in the spatter powder exceeded the limit value for IN718 by 290 ppm, and aluminum oxide spots were found on the spatter particles surfaces. Laser absorption analysis showed 10 pp higher laser absorption compared to the other powders. The results of evaluation showed that IN718 powder is resistant to multiple uses in the LPBF process. Due to the low degradation rate of IN718 powder, overflow powder can be re-enabled for multiple uses with a proper recycling strategy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:02:25Z |
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| id | doaj.art-e0869a7e74244bc68aed16b496de16c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:02:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-e0869a7e74244bc68aed16b496de16c42023-11-21T11:24:56ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442021-03-01146153810.3390/ma14061538Evaluation of Inconel 718 Metallic Powder to Optimize the Reuse of Powder and to Improve the Performance and Sustainability of the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) ProcessKonrad Gruber0Irina Smolina1Marcin Kasprowicz2Tomasz Kurzynowski3Center for Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (CAMT-FPC), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, ul. Łukasiewicza 5, 50-371 Wroclaw, PolandCenter for Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (CAMT-FPC), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, ul. Łukasiewicza 5, 50-371 Wroclaw, PolandFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, ul. Łukasiewicza 5, 50-371 Wroclaw, PolandCenter for Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (CAMT-FPC), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, ul. Łukasiewicza 5, 50-371 Wroclaw, PolandIn this paper, a detailed assessment of Inconel 718 powder, with varying degrees of degradation due to repeated use in the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) process, has been undertaken. Four states of IN718 powder (virgin, used, overflow and spatter) were characterized in terms of their morphology, flowability and physico-chemical properties. Studies showed that used and overflow powders were almost identical. The fine particle-size distribution of the virgin powder, in which 50% of particles were found to be below the nominal particle-size distribution (PSD), was recognized as the main reason for its lower flowability and the main cause of the differentiation between virgin, used and overflow powders. Only spatter powder was found to be degraded enough to preclude its direct LPBF reuse. The oxygen content in the spatter powder exceeded the limit value for IN718 by 290 ppm, and aluminum oxide spots were found on the spatter particles surfaces. Laser absorption analysis showed 10 pp higher laser absorption compared to the other powders. The results of evaluation showed that IN718 powder is resistant to multiple uses in the LPBF process. Due to the low degradation rate of IN718 powder, overflow powder can be re-enabled for multiple uses with a proper recycling strategy.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/6/1538Inconel 718powder recyclingpowder reuselaser powder bed fusionselective laser meltingadditive manufacturing |
| spellingShingle | Konrad Gruber Irina Smolina Marcin Kasprowicz Tomasz Kurzynowski Evaluation of Inconel 718 Metallic Powder to Optimize the Reuse of Powder and to Improve the Performance and Sustainability of the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) Process Materials Inconel 718 powder recycling powder reuse laser powder bed fusion selective laser melting additive manufacturing |
| title | Evaluation of Inconel 718 Metallic Powder to Optimize the Reuse of Powder and to Improve the Performance and Sustainability of the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) Process |
| title_full | Evaluation of Inconel 718 Metallic Powder to Optimize the Reuse of Powder and to Improve the Performance and Sustainability of the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) Process |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of Inconel 718 Metallic Powder to Optimize the Reuse of Powder and to Improve the Performance and Sustainability of the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) Process |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of Inconel 718 Metallic Powder to Optimize the Reuse of Powder and to Improve the Performance and Sustainability of the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) Process |
| title_short | Evaluation of Inconel 718 Metallic Powder to Optimize the Reuse of Powder and to Improve the Performance and Sustainability of the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) Process |
| title_sort | evaluation of inconel 718 metallic powder to optimize the reuse of powder and to improve the performance and sustainability of the laser powder bed fusion lpbf process |
| topic | Inconel 718 powder recycling powder reuse laser powder bed fusion selective laser melting additive manufacturing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/6/1538 |
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