Constant search for new 3D printing powder solutions

The alloy development can range from a simple tweaking of composition of an existing alloy to creating a totally new alloy based on requirements of the printed part. In the latter case, our engineers set up a hypothesis on how a material can interact with the printing process in order to reach the performance goals. Then, our alloy labs use integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) to create a cloud of compositions that fulfil the criteria of the hypothesis. A few are selected and powder is produced in our pilot-scale atomizing units followed by printing of parts either in-house, at our selected partners or directly at the customer. Testing of the parts is also a task included in the alloy development, for which Höganäs is well equipped.

At present, we have ongoing alloy development activities in the following fields: tool steels, nickel-based super alloys, low-alloy steels and aluminium alloys.