The new manufacturing approach uses metal hydrides synthesis and could offer higher productivity, improved quality of synthesized hydride, lower energy consumption and better ecological purity.
‘The quest for cheap and available powders of refractory metals has been long and hard and the 3D industry will value our solution,’ claimed Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, chairman, president, and CEO of Zecotek Photonics Inc. ‘Laser sintering-based 3D printing is undoubtedly the technology of the future. We expect the advantages of our breakthrough technology to greatly contribute to the rapid development of additive technologies for 3D rapid manufacturing.
Changing market
‘The development of a new generation of hydrogen-containing materials, including those based on refractory metals, nano-modified alloys and certain inter-metallides groups, is key for additive 3D printing technologies. Zecotek and its strategic partners are leading the way in this very vast and rapidly changing market.’
Traditional metal powder manufacturing requires longer methods operations to prepare hydrides, such as initial activation of metal and the deep cleaning of hydrogen, plus using fine metal powder under hydrogenation.
Zecotek has been working with the Institute of Chemical Physics of the National Academy of Sciences on this project, with the aim of fine tuning the advanced technology necessary for the fabrication of metal powders from metal hydride compounds. The metal powder developed by Zecotek and partners will be compatible with Zecotek`s 3D printer and other laser sintering based 3D printers. The company is in negotiations with a view to selecting the most optimum commercialization route its new 3D printer and powder technologies.
