ASTM International to host workshop on metal powder characterisation
January 23, 2019

The ASTM International committee on metal powders and metal powder products (B09) is holding a workshop on powder characterisation in Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA, on April 16, 2019. Taking place at the Hampton Inn & Suites Amelia Island Historic Harbor Front, the workshop will run in conjunction with the standards development meetings of the ASTM committee.
Workshop organiser and ASTM International member W. Brian James noted that new powder characterisation tests have been developed but not yet standardised for use specifically with metal powders.
In anticipation of the meeting, workshop presenters were supplied two sets of metal powders (titanium alloy and ferrous-based) with a particle size suitable for Powder Bed Fusion processing. Each set contained virgin powder plus powders that had been through the process multiple times. Participants were asked to characterise the powders using either a Freeman rheometer or a rotating drum tester. Then, they recorded results for three test repetitions on a fresh test portion of powder from each process condition.
The results of these tests will be presented at the workshop and will form the basis for deciding whether the committee should develop standard guides or test methods for these new metal powder characterisation techniques.
The workshop and the committee meeting are open to anyone interested. For more information, contact ASTM International Staff Manager Molly Lynyak ([email protected]).