Effect of particle size distribution and drying treatment on the flowability of 2017 aluminum alloy powder

• Grant number: 21/12091-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2021
• End date: October 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Physical Metallurgy
• Principal Investigator: Piter Gargarella
• Grantee: Luís Guilherme Santagnelo Nogueira
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/27031-4 - Effect of process parameters on the metallurgical characteristics of additive-manufactured alloys, AP.JP

Abstract

One of the most important parameters of the additive manufacturing technique of Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is the powder used. Its flowability, density, and particle size distribution are parameters that considerably affect the quality of the part produced by SLM. The powder used also needs to be dry as moisture considerably deteriorates its flowability and can promote greater oxidation and porosity in the final part. In this project, the effect of particle size distribution and drying treatment on the flowability of 2017 aluminum alloy powder will be investigated. Powder of this alloy will be produced by gas atomization using previously optimized parameters, and its physical properties (particle size distribution, morphology, density, and flowability) will be characterized. From the mixture of powders of different granulometric ranges, samples with different particle size distributions will be prepared. The flowability and bulk density of these different samples will be quantified using a Carney funnel. It will also be carried out drying treatments in a vacuum furnace and an oven, using different times and temperatures of treatment, to evaluate its influence on the flowability and bulk density of the powder produced.(AU)