\n\tOerlikon Metco, Switzerland, has expanded its materials portfolio with novel superalloy powders optimized for additive manufacturing processes. It has expanded its R&D and materials engineering competency to support laser sintering, laser melting, laser metal deposition, and electron beam melting. <\/p>\n
\n\tTo take advantage of high growth opportunities in the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries, AM parts must exhibit mechanical properties comparable to those of traditional manufacturing methods. For key applications, superalloy materials are preferred for their strength and corrosion resistance at high temperatures. Oerlikon Metco has been involved in multiple projects to correlate materials, manufacturing processes, and metallurgical mechanisms to create tailored materials for additive manufacturing processes.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe company is equipped to custom-design materials, and currently markets optimized alloys such as MetcoClad 718, MetcoClad 625, and MetcoClad 625F. Aiding these activities is the ability to offer clients high-end testing and characterization services that ensure materials meet requirements. <\/p>\n
\n\tCurrent powder manufacturing activities include initial prototype quantities, pilot production lots, and scale up to produce and deliver many tens of tons of materials per year suitable for laser-based and electron beam additive manufacturing applications.<\/p>\n