HC Starck Tungsten Powders, a subsidiary of Masan High-Tech Materials Group based in Goslar, Germany, has recently announced the rebranding of its tungsten powders for Additive Manufacturing.
The company has been manufacturing tungsten powders for powder metallurgy for over 100 years, and they will now sell their additive manufacturing tungsten feedstocks under the brand name “starck2print”.
The powders will come in 2 different flavors, with the first (starck2print tungsten metal powder W35T) being optimized for LPBF printing with its 30 – 37 µm mean particle size, and the second (starck2print tungsten metal powder W75T) being qualified for electron beam melting processes. The latter has a larger mean particle size of 70 – 80 µm.
Both variants are made from special grades of tungsten with low oxygen content, superior flowability and bulk density, meeting the requirements of additive manufacturing processes.
Tungsten is a hard, pure metal known for its high melting point and resistance to wear, chemicals, and radiation. While it was previously difficult to 3D print with tungsten due to its properties, recent advancements have made it possible to create highly accurate parts.
Tungsten’s non-magnetic properties also make it suitable for use in medical MRIs. Additionally, its ability to absorb and shield radiation makes it a valuable material for use in extreme conditions in the nuclear energy industry. It’s also darned heavy, which is why it’s used as ballast in spacecraft and other aerospace applications that may have a volume constraint.
Tungsten’s unique properties make it a valuable addition to the world of 3D printing.
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