概要 の 316Lステンレススチール粉
316L stainless steel powder is an austenitic steel alloy widely used in additive manufacturing or 3D printing applications across aerospace, medical device, chemical processing, and tooling industries. With higher purity and lower carbon content versus conventional 316 powder, 316L powder enables fabrication of corrosion resistant components meeting biocompatibility standards.
This article covers 316L powder compositions tailored for major AM processes, key characteristics like particle size distribution, flow rates, and satellite particle percentage that influence printing processability, and examples of critical applications in harsh environments.
構成 of 316l stainless steel powder
The elemental composition range of 316L stainless steel powder is summarized below:
| エレメント | Weight % Composition | 役割 |
|---|---|---|
| 鉄 | Balance, 65-70% | Principal matrix component |
| クロム | 16-18% | Enhances corrosion and oxidation resistance |
| ニッケル | 10-14% | Stabilizes austenitic structure |
| モリブデン | 2-3% | Further improves pitting and crevice corrosion resistance |
| マンガン | <2% | Promotes sound weldability |
| カーボン | 0.03%最大 | Lower carbon reduces carbide precipitation – improves corrosion resistance and biocompatibility |
| シリコン | 0.75% max | Deoxidizer preventing excess oxide formation |
| リン | 0.025% max | Impurity regulated to maximize ductility |
| 硫黄 | 0.01%以下 | Impurity regulated to avoid cracking |
| 窒素 | 最大0.1% | Stabilizes microstructure |
| 銅 | 最大0.5% | Impurity amount controlled during melting |
The ‘L’ denotes low or less than 0.03% carbon content. This gives slightly reduced yield and tensile strength versus standard 316 powder but enhances welding, corrosion, and biocompatibility performance critical for medical devices or marine applications.
生産方法 of 316l stainless steel powder
316L stainless steel powder is commercially manufactured via the following primary methods:
- ガス噴霧: High pressure inert gas jets break up a thin metal stream into fine droplets upon solidification as powders. Serves aerospace market.
- 水の霧化: Most economical technique where water breaks up molten metal, yielding irregular powder shapes acceptable for some industrial applications.
- プラズマ回転電極プロセス（PREP）: Electrode melted by plasma arc disintegrates from centrifugal force, flings powder to the reactor walls upon cooling. Gives very spherical shapes.
- Hydrogen Atomization: Specialty technique using hydrogen gas for better flow powders tailored for additive manufacturing. Minimizes satellite particles.
Gas, water, and plasma variations utilize rapid solidification rates to generate fine metallic powders from the molten feedstock. Each technique imparts subtly different particle characteristics described in the next section.
316Lステンレススチール粉 特徴
Critical attributes of 316L stainless steel powder are highlighted below:
| パラメータ | 詳細 | Measurement Method |
|---|---|---|
| 粒子形状 | Spherical, satellite allowed per ASTM B214 | SEMイメージング、顕微鏡 |
| 粒度分布 | D10: 25-45 μm, D50: 30-75 μm, D90: 55-100 μm | レーザー回折式粒度分布測定装置 |
| 見かけ密度 | Typically 40-50% dense as powder mass over volume basis | Hall flowmeter funnel or pycnometry |
| タップ密度 | Typically 60-65% dense with mechanical agitation | Determined as per ASTM B527 |
| 流量 | 30-35 s/50g, good flow is <40 s | ホール流量計テスト |
| Loss on ignition (LOI) | <0.5 wt.% | Heated to 1022°F and mass loss measured |
| 残留ガス | 400-800 ppm oxygen, <150 ppm nitrogen | Inert gas fusion followed by thermal conductivity detection |
| Satellite fraction | <20% ideal | Image analysis of SEM micrograph |
Key metrics like consistent particle size distribution, high powder flow rates, minimal satellites, and low oxygen/nitrogen levels ensure optimal printing processability. Customized powder batches are engineered to meet application needs in areas like biomedical, marine hardware, or chemical processing equipment demanding corrosion resistance.
316Lステンレススチール粉 機械的特性
Printed 316L stainless steel offers the following mechanical characteristics:
| パラメータ | As-printed 316L | Annealed 316L |
|---|---|---|
| 引張強度 | 500～650MPa | 450～550MPa |
| 降伏強度 | 400-500 MPa | 240-300 MPa |
| 破断伸度 | 35-50% | 40-60% |
| 硬度 | 80-90HRB | 75-85 HRB |
| 表面粗さ | As high as 20 μm Ra due to layer ridges | Reduced to 0.4 μm Ra or better via surface finishing techniques |
Annealing printed parts or components at 1900°F for at least 1 hour serves to relieve internal stresses from the layer-by-layer build process. This returns ductility levels to match conventionally manufactured 316L while slightly lowering strength.
316Lステンレススチール粉 アプリケーション
Given its tailored corrosion resistance, 316L powder is ideal for additive manufacturing components across:
- Marine Hardware: Impellers, valves, fittings, and other oceanic parts subject to saltwater.
- 化学処理: Pump housings, valves, reactors, and pipelines requiring chemical compatibility.
- バイオメディカル: Surgical tools, orthopedic implants meeting FDA biocompatibility specs mandated by ISO 10993 and/or ASTM F138.
- 食品加工: Cutlery, meat processing wear components not allowing cross-contamination.
Owing to these diverse applications from offshore drilling equipment to pacemaker casings to food preparation components, 316L is a versatile and ubiquitous alloy for designers to keep on hand.
コスト分析
| 経費 | 合計 | Per Unit |
|---|---|---|
| 316Lパウダー | $106/kg | $35 |
| Printer Charges | $100/kg build rate | $33 |
| 労働 | $50 | $17 |
| 合計 | $256 | $85 |
Here the analysis assumes a relatively small ~3 kg total part mass, hence powder is about 40% of total expenses. But for larger components, build time dominates costs more than material itself. In comparison, machining the same geometry from annealed 316L bar stock would cost $45-$75 per kg – but AM enables consolidation of ports, fasteners, weight reduction which offset increased printing costs through production savings down the line.
316Lステンレススチール粉 サプライヤー
Various mills and distributors offer 316L stainless steel powder covering the gamut of size ranges and characteristics. Some leading global suppliers include:
| 会社概要 | 製造方法 | Particle Size Availability | Additional Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| サンドビック・オスプレイ | ガスアトマイズド | 15～150μm | 17-4PH, 15-5PH, 304L, maraging steel |
| カーペンター添加剤 | PREP + gas atomized | 15-63 μm | 17-4PH, Custom alloys |
| プラクセア | 霧化された水 | Up to 240 μm | Ti-6-4, Inconel 718, stainless grades |
| LPWテクノロジー | 霧化された水 | 45-150 μm | 316L master alloys available |
| ホーガナス | ガスアトマイズド | 22-100 μm | Custom particle optimization service |
316Lステンレススチール粉 規格
ASTM and other globally harmonized standards for 316L powder production and quality assurance testing:
| スタンダード | 説明 |
|---|---|
| ASTM A240 | Chemical composition limits for Cr, Ni, Mo, C, N and other minor alloying ranges |
| ASTM B214 | Covers acceptable 316L powder particle characteristics like satellites, hall flow rate, and mesh testing procedures |
| ASTM E562 | Test methodology to determine chemical composition via wet analysis techniques like ICP-OES |
| ISO 9001 | Quality management system for supplier adherence as basis for customer specifications |
| ASTM F3049 | Guide for characterizing and optimizing AM metallic powders like 316L |
| ASTM F3056 | Specification for controlling 316L powder quality as feedstock for AM qualification builds |
Certifying 316L powder against these specifications ensures it meets target density, chemistry, particle shape standards for reliable printing processability regardless of production method.
316L Powder vs Cast and Wrought Alloys
| パラメータ | Powder Metallurgy 316L | Cast 316L | Wrought 316L |
|---|---|---|---|
| コスト | $$$$ | $-$$ | $-$$$ |
| リードタイム | Days to 2 weeks typically | 4-8 weeks | 8-12 weeks |
| 化学コントロール | Very consistent within 0.25% | Varies up to 1% | Average 0.5% deviations |
| 多孔性 | Full dense prints | 5-10% porosity levels | Essentially non-porous |
| 不純物 | Traces only | Moderate inclusions | Low inclusions |
| Grain Structure | Depends on print parameters | Coarse cast grain | Finer wrought structure |
| Supply Limitations | Small batch quantities may require MOQ | すぐに入手可能 | Possible mill minimums |
So while additive manufacturing using 316L powder costs much more per printed kg than buying bar stock, the design freedom, customizability, and reliable chemistry offsets that premium in industries emphasizing performance over upfront material price.
316L Powder Handling Considerations
To prevent powder property degradation during storage and reuse, precautions include:
- Store sealed powder containers under inert gas like argon
- Limit exposure during powder sieving/handling to avoid oxygen/moisture pickup
- Bake powders at 100°C for 6 hours every 3-6 months to drive off absorbed gases
- Monitor powder oxygen and nitrogen content periodically
- Sieve properly to break up any agglomerations prior to printing
- Follow manufacturer guidelines on powder reuse, blending ratios, and lifespans
Adhering to these handling instructions maintains powder flowability and prevents pore formation during printing over dozens of build cycles using the same 316L batches.
よくあるご質問
| 質問 | 答え |
|---|---|
| Is 316L powder recyclable after printing or does it degrade after one-time use? | Yes, 316L powder can typically be reused 5-10 times before refreshed with virgin batches if stored properly. Sieving out new particle formation and monitoring oxygen content is key. |
| Does 316L powder require hot isostatic pressing after 3D printing to improve densities? | While HIP can further densify printed 316L components, achieving 99%+ densities is feasible even without HIP depending on optimized print parameters. HIP serves more to enhance fatigue performance. |
| Can 316L parts made using AM powder achieve corrosion resistance equivalent to tradition wrought 316L stainless steel? | Yes – printed 316L matches and even exceeds corrosion resistance of cast or wrought forms in many chemical environments owing to lower defect and impurity levels. |
| How does 316L powder’s high nickel content impact its recyclability? | While driving up costs, high Ni and Cr protects against powder degradation provided oxygen levels during storage are actively controlled. These alloying elements greatly improve reuse viability. |
概要
With finely controlled low carbon chemistry targeting biocompatibility and weldability, 316L stainless steel powder serves corrosion resistant additive manufacturing applications from medical implants to marine components working in harsh saline environments. Maintaining less than 0.03% carbon and trace nitrogen levels ensures the austenitic microstructure resists pitting and crevice corrosion in acids, chlorides, alcohols and a host of chemical solutions. Combining reusable powders exceeding ASTM specifications for particle size distribution, satellites, and hall flow rate with optimized 3D printers produces dense printed 316L parts rivaling and exceeding corrosion performance of traditionally manufactured varieties. As printer hardware, software, and parameter development continues maturing, 316L stainless steel AM powder will drive expanded adoption serving new markets like oil wells, chemical reactors, and surgical tools where high hardness, strength and alkali resistance proves critical.
