付加製造用アルミニウム合金粉末の流動性に影響する粉末特性

抄録

Metal powder utilized in the powder bed fusion using a laser beam (PBF-LB/M) is demanded to have a superior flowability not only to supply to the building platform from a powder hopper but also to form the high dense powder layer on the platform. In the present study, several aluminum alloy powders with a different shape, water content, and specific charge were investigated in order to identify the principal factor affecting the flowability during the PBF-LB/M process. In addition, the influence of surface morphology in the metal powder on the flowability during the PBF-LB/M was evaluated. As results, the frictional force generated between the metal powders was influenced by not only the circularity but also the surface morphology of metal powder, and the surface morphology was one of the principal factor affecting the flowability during the PBF-LB/M process. The cohesion force between metal powders was increased with increasing the specific charge acted as the electrostatic force, and the moisture attached on the metal powder was effective for reducing the specific charge that was resulted in the improvement of flowability in the metal powder.