Multi-material Additive Manufacturing: Metal Powder Recycling via Sedimentation

Max Horn, Jérôme van Betteraaÿ, Frank Lederer, Mario Schafnitzel, Simone Dietrich, Georg Schlick, Christian Seidel, Gunther Reinhart

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Powder-based multi-material additive manufacturing (AM) enables arbitrary material composition in parts. This opens new freedom of design possibilities for high-performance components. During multi-material AM however, processed powders get mixed and occurring cross-contaminations can lead to inferior part quality. Therefore, mixed powders need to be separated during recycling. As fluids generally increase selectivity of many sorting processes, this study investigates the possibility to apply a well-established fluid media-based sorting processes to recycle metal AM powder mixtures: sedimentation. Sink rates of four different, commonly processed metal alloys are examined experimentally. Furthermore, influence of fluid media on powder quality is discussed. For this purpose, non-corrosive fluids are selected - volatile hydrocarbons being most suiting. Concluding, the applicability of sedimentation as multi-material powder recycling solution is evaluated.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings - Euro PM2020 Congress and Exhibition
PublisherEuropean Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA)
ISBN (Electronic)9781899072514
StatePublished - 2020
EventEuropean Powder Metallurgy Congress and Exhibition, Euro PM 2020 - Virtual, Online
Duration: 5 Oct 20207 Oct 2020

Publication series

NameProceedings - Euro PM2020 Congress and Exhibition

Conference

ConferenceEuropean Powder Metallurgy Congress and Exhibition, Euro PM 2020
CityVirtual, Online
Period5/10/207/10/20

Keywords

  • Cross-contamination
  • Multi-material additive manufacturing
  • Powder purity
  • Powder quality
  • Powder separation
  • Recycling
  • Sedimentation

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