Powder Metallurgy Particle Size Analysis - Metal Powder Analysis

Particle size and particle size distribution of metal powders are defining characteristics of the metal powders influencing key powder properties.

Metal powders have many industrial applications. They are used in dietary supplements, as metal additives in paints and coatings, and as pigments in inks, and are especially important for the production of a wide range of solid metal components to precise tolerances.

Metal Powders Particle Size Analysis

A variety of techniques is used in metal component production, from conventional die-based and newer injection moulding processes to the latest advances in additive manufacturing. Particle size and particle size distribution are defining characteristics of the metal powders used because they influence key powder properties including bulk density, flowability, moldability, compressibility and die-filling capability. These can impact both in-process behaviour and final product performance. • Particle packing and flowability are important in all powder metallurgy processes but especially in additive manufacturing. Optimizing the particle size distribution ensures the necessary ratio of large to small particles. • Particle size can affect compressibility (important in pressed powder applications), and the surface texture and dimensional accuracy of injection-molded parts.

Particle Size and Size Distribution of Metal Powders

Accurate metal powder particle size and size distribution information is essential in ensuring that a metal powder is appropriate for a particular application and that it is within the specifications required to achieve acceptable quality. Laser diffraction is a rapid high-resolution particle sizing technique that enables quantification of all size fractions in a metal powder. It has applications from R&D through to ongoing control of production processes and quality testing of the final product.