Latest Trends in Powder Material Handling for Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

This paper focuses on powder-based additive manufacturing (AM) as a state-of-the-art printing technology that utilises powder materials. First, it describes conventional evaluation techniques for powder handling, covering particle size, particle shape, flowability, feedability, and methods for assessing dynamic powder flow properties. Next, it provides an overview of research and development trends in powder-based AM, specifically the Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) and Binder Jetting (BJ) processes, with respect to powder-handling evaluation. It introduces techniques for assessing factors such as powder bed formation (Spreadability), powder bed density, and green density, as well as simulation methods to understand phenomena during powder layering. Furthermore, it discusses the mechanisms governing the quality formation and the resulting properties of the final manufactured parts. Finally, the paper summarises the future prospects for powder-based AM and powder-handling technologies.