Download: Understanding the Factors Influencing Powder Spreadability For Laser Powder Bed Fusion
E.R.L. Espiritu , J.A. Muniz Lerma , T. Turner , M.J. Conlon , D. Brouse and M. Brochu 
Department of Mining and Materials Engineering,
McGill University & Equispheres

ABSTRACT

Powder flow behaviour is an important aspect in powder-based additive manufacturing technology, which relies on good spreadability to obtain a consistent powder layering that will ultimately result in high-quality parts. The powder flow behavior is influenced by various factors such as particle size, shape, texture, density, surface chemistry, moisture content, etc. Since flow depends on many characteristics, there is no single metric for flowability. Different test methods have been developed to characterize the powder flow; among the most popular are the angle of repose and the Hall/Carney flow test. This paper will demonstrate a different approach to characterize Al-based powder, identify the best characteristics and factors dictating the spreading during laser powder bed fusion, and correlate these with the quality of the printed build.