Composite Micropowders for Selective Laser Sintering

Abstract

A method is proposed for obtaining composite micropowders. The technology includes the atomization of liquid metal by a gas jet and modification of the micropowder in a planetary mixer in the presence of carbon nanopowder. The particles of the composite micropowders produced by this method are close to spherical in shape. The fact that some parts of the particles’ surface are covered with graphite and some are not shows that it might be possible to obtain a sintered product which has adequate strength and a structure that contains carbon impregnations. The proposed technology makes it possible to produce a wide range of composite powders suitable for use in selective laser sintering.