Freeman Technology, a Micromeritics company based in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK, has released a new eBook titled ‘Powder Flow Testing for Additive Manufacturing.’

The eBook focuses on the measurement of bulk powder properties, particularly flowability via dynamic testing, that is being used to enhance throughput and additively manufactured product quality, states the company. Including a range of case studies, the eBook provides valuable, expert guidance for materials scientists and engineers looking to optimise the application and performance of AM.

Freeman explains that the application of AM is growing rapidly, in industries such as aerospace and automotive, energy and medical. The robust specification of feedstocks is critical for commercial success, to secure consistency in the powder supply chain and to develop new materials for Additive Manufacturing.

Choosing between supplies, establishing effective powder recycling strategies, and selecting the best material for a specific application all rely on understanding which properties define performance. Bulk flow properties are important within this context as they impact powder discharge from the feed hopper into the process and spreadability, the ease and consistency of powder dispersion across the build platform. Powder flowability can also directly influence the quality of finished components.

The robust specification of powders for AM is challenging with subtle differences distinguishing powders that perform well from those that will be economically or technically inferior. Multi-faceted powder characterisation, based on the measurement of dynamic, bulk and shear properties, provides valuable insight into powder behaviour with the exemplary sensitivity and established relevance of dynamic testing often proving critical.

Readers of the eBook can learn about the following topics:

• Which powder properties are most relevant to AM performance and why?
• The strengths and limitations of different techniques for powder flow measurement
• The benefits of multi-faceted powder testing, via a series of case studies from in-house research and industrial collaborations

The eBook is available to download here.

www.freemantech.co.uk