The new laboratory is due to become operational mid-2022. Plans are for the company to develop new technologies to improve the atomization process, particularly with regard to yield and process stability.
“For the atomization of metals to create powders for additive manufacturing, a key challenge is to maintain a large volume of gas (2,000 cubic meters per hour), under high pressure (60 bar or higher) and temperature (up to 400⁰C), even for a short period of time,” a press release said. “When adding in factors such as metal type and gas composition, the variable parameters are immense and to analyze them requires not only the most advanced equipment, but reliable gas supply and expertise.”
Because of their size and cost standard metal powder atomizers are unsuitable for the observation and analysis of gas behavior as parameters are adapted, the company said. As a result, the new laboratory will feature a smaller 1.60 ms high scale version of a typical atomizer with specially adapted windows, lighting, high-speed cameras and schlieren imaging allowing for surveillance and data capture of each change of gas parameter.
Instead of relying on the introduction of molten metal; it will use data from the simulated process to provide evidence of gas behavior under certain conditions. The different parameters to be assessed include gas type, volume of gas, pressure and temperature.
Linde says that it will also collaborate with powder manufacturers and OEMs to help them test specific gas behaviors on the test bench, allowing them to then scale up the results on their large atomizers. In particular, the company will be able to offer powder manufacturers testing services to improve their nozzle designs by 3D printing prototypes and testing them in the new lab.
“As demand grows for new metal powders, more research into the parameters of the gases which are integral to their manufacture is needed to ensure their role is optimized,” said Pierre Forêt, associate director additive manufacturing, Linde.
