Metal 3D printer provider Markforged says that Inconel 625 powder can now be used with its Metal X 3D printer.
The company’s Inconel 625 is a nickel-chromium based alloy with 20-23% chromium content, and has an ultimate tensile strength of 765 MPa, 0.2% yield strength of 334 MPa, and 42% elongation at break (all properties as sintered). Compared to wrought Inconel 625 (AMS 5599) which has 100% relative density, Markforged Inconel as sintered reportedly has a relative density of 96.5%.
It can retain high strength at elevated temperatures, and is suitable for chemical, offshore, and aerospace industries, according to Markforged. The company says that it plans to reduce cost of access to Inconel 625, expand the material’s applications, and deliver lead times competitive with other manufacturing methods.
The Metal X process, called atomic diffusion additive manufacturing (ADAM), involves the use of a polymeric material fused with metal powder. The metal content of this material is not required to melt at the extrusion stage of the ADAM process as it is followed by a furnace sintering stage, so the system can work with materials containing metal alloys that would otherwise melt at a point well outside its maximum extrusion temperature, Markforged said. Inconel 625, for example, has a melting point exceeding 1000°C.
This story uses material from Markforged, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
