3D printing technology complete metal material classification

3D printing technology has the most complete metal classification and use. Although 3D printing has the largest variety of plastic materials and the 3D printing market has the largest share, metal materials still have unparalleled advantages in the application of "critical parts". Humans realized long ago that metals can achieve strengths that other materials cannot. With the continuous development of human activities on the earth, we use metal materials for more specialized fields, from radiation protection devices of spacecraft to conductive parts of PCB boards.

titanium

Although Metalysis's process can produce many types of metal powders, its main focus is still on the preparation of titanium powders. "In a nutshell, titanium is a very magical metal," Vaughan said. "It's light, but it's strong and has good corrosion resistance."

Grade 23 titanium powder has higher purity and biocompatibility. It can be made into coils and wires and still maintain high specific strength, corrosion resistance and toughness. This material is commonly used in the biomedical field, including surgical instruments and implants.

aluminum

The two most common types of 3D printed aluminum alloy powders are AlSi12 and AlSi10Mg. Although both are composed of aluminum and some silicon, AlSI10Mg also contains Mg elements. Both are cast alloys and are very useful for making thin-walled and complex geometric parts.

steel

There are many types of steel, which can be divided into three categories: stainless steel, tool steel, and maraging steel. Martensitic aging steel obtains high strength and hardness through extended heat treatment process without losing ductility. This means that it can be easily machined after printing and can be further hardened. Therefore, maraging steel can be applied to batch parts and molds.

cobalt

There are many types of cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys that can be 3D printed. They often show high strength, high hardness, corrosion resistance and high temperature. Cobalt is often combined with chromium, tungsten and other elements to make heavy-duty cutting tools or dies. It is also used with magnetic stainless steel for jet or gas turbine parts.

nickel

Inconel 718, Inconel 625, and HX (all composed of nickel and chromium) are the most commonly used 3D printed nickel-based alloys. These materials are resistant to high temperatures, oxidation, and corrosion, and still exhibit high strength at temperatures up to 1200 ° C. Chiseled alloy parts have excellent welding performance and can be further enhanced in strength by post-heat treatment. These materials are used in the aerospace and racing industries, especially in environments where there is a significant risk of high temperatures and oxidation, such as combustion chambers and fans.

copper

The use of copper in the 3D printing industry is not common, but there are still some companies developing copper alloy powders for powder bed melting processes. In addition, the DED process may already use copper for the welding industry. Compared with silver, copper has higher aesthetic value and hardness. This material can be used in jewelry and crafts. Copper is also used in aviation.

Precious metals

Precious metals that can be 3D printed include silver, gold and platinum. These materials are usually relatively soft, high gloss, and low chemical reactivity. In many cases, they also conduct electricity very well. In addition to Concept Laser, Cooksongold is one of the few companies that provides gold (yellow, pink, white) and platinum 3D printing. These materials are mainly used in jewelry and crafts.

Refractory metal

There are relatively few refractory metals, including niobium, molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten, and rhenium, which are known for their extremely high heat resistance. Their melting points all exceed 2000 ° C, their chemical reactions are inactive, their density is high, and their hardness is high.

Tantalum has high corrosion resistance and very good conductivity, which is very meaningful in the electronics industry. According to Los Alamos National Laboratory research, 60% of this material is used in vacuum furnace parts and electrolytic capacitors. In theory, tantalum can increase the radioactivity of nuclear particles.

Pure tungsten has a higher melting point than any element, up to 3422 ° C. This metal has a high density and is difficult to process, but its stability is suitable for wear-resistant products such as knives, drills, mills, saws, etc. Tungsten has good oxidation resistance, acid and alkali resistance, and can be used for radiation shielding.