Standardization News

ASTM International’s additive manufacturing (AM) technologies committee (F42) is developing a proposed standard that will help to control the cleanliness of metal powder feedstock used in AM processes and thus ensure quality of final AM components.

The proposed standard will help AM users to perform cleanliness assessment of unused and re-used powders.

According to ASTM International member Aneta Chrostek-Mroz, powder handling and processing practices used in AM, particularly during powder reuse, may lead to deterioration of powder properties through the introduction of contamination. This can result in inclusions and defects in final components.

“The proposed standard will help manufacturers and users of metal powder feedstock used in additive manufacturing to identify suitable methods for detecting and quantifying different types of contamination,” says Chrostek-Mroz, research engineer, at the MTC. “The guide will define and classify typical contamination that can be present within metal powder feedstock.” 

The committee invites interested parties to help develop the proposed standard (WK80171). Technical experts with experience in cleanliness assessment and/or have researched contamination of metal powder used in AM are particularly encouraged to get involved. 

ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. JOIN ASTM.