Properties and Formability of IN738 Alloy Powder for Selective Laser Melting

The physical properties of 1N738 alloy powder prepared by the gas atomization technology are fully characterized. The particle size distributions, particle surface roughness, surface morphologies and internal structures of the powder and the selective laser melting (SLM) formed parts are analyzed. The results show that most of the 1N738 alloy powder is spherical or spheroidal. The particle size distribution is normal with the powder particle sizes d(10) of 14.96 mu m, d(30) of 28. 72 mu m, and d(90) of 52.85 mu m. The time used for 50 g powder flowing through a fluidity tester is 23.4 s. The laser absorptivity of powder increases as particle size and surface roughness increase. The surface of the SLM formed part is well lapped and the density reaches 99.3%.