Digital Metal AB, Sweden, a Höganӓs Group company, announces that it is launching two binder-jet 3D-printed superalloys for applications in extreme environments: DM 247, a nickel-base superalloy, and DM 625, a nickel-chromium superalloy. The unique properties of Digital Metal’s binder jetting technology make it highly suitable for printing superalloys with near full density, including non-weldable grades.
Superalloys exhibit great strength and corrosion resistance even when subjected to high heat and stress. These properties make them especially suitable challenging applications such as aerospace, automotive, and chemical. However, so far it has been difficult to use non-weldable materials such as MAR M247 in 3D printing, where high solidification rates and thermal gradients are inherent.
Digital Metal’s unique binder jetting technology helps avoid most of these problems by printing in an ambient temperature without applying any heat, followed by a separate sintering step. During sintering densification takes place without melting and with minimal thermal gradients during cooling from sintering temperature.
The DM 247 is based on the non-weldable MAR M247, which is widely used as material for turbine blades and in other applications with elevated temperatures. The DM 625 is an Inconel 625-grade. Its application areas range from seawater applications and chemical processing equipment, to nuclear industry and aerospace.
“We have been receiving qualified requests for these materials from various large companies,” says Ralf Carlström, General Manager at Digital Metal. “Many producers within the aerospace and automotive business have long been anticipating high-quality superalloys that are suitable for 3D printing. Now we can offer them the perfect combination – our unique binder jetting technology and superalloys that are specially developed for our printers.”
