Metal Powder - Production, Handling and Characterisation

Overview

Key Facts

Metal powders are vital for many processes, including additive manufacturing, sintering, isostatic pressing and metal injection moulding.

The way in which powders are characterised is a major focus of this course: what properties are important?  How can they be measured?  What problems can there be in measurements? Even the most advanced and successful powder production processes is useless unless the powders are stored and handled correctly.  This and potential hazards of metal powder will be considered.

The Metal Powder - Production, Handling and Characterisation course offered by KTH Royal Institute of Technology has been designed so that you are in control.  Information will be made available using videos, texts and formative quizzes in Canvas.  Lectures will focus on advanced areas, industrial challenges and issues of metal powders and sustainability.

The course is examined in three parts: 

• a lab exercise

• a written exam that includes multiple choice questions

• an assignment that is based on a feasible industrial scenario.

• Give example of and evaluate different process paths for production of metal powder

• Compare relevant methods to measure properties of powder and evaluate these for a given powder material and intended application

• Justify for possible changes in powder properties due to storing and handling and explain how this can be prevented or is mitigated

• Give example of and justify different process paths for production of PM components (components of metal powder)

• Explain which different generic properties a powder may depending on production process and justify for the suitability for a specific component manufacturing method

• Give example of components produced with powder metallurgy and justify why the PM process has been used in these cases