Additive Manufacturing:
3D Printing

Most large scale Additive Manufacturing, or 3D Printing, processes use powders.

  1. Moisture in the powder can cause it to become sticky affecting its flowability. This puts the consistency of a laser build process at risk.

  2. Moisture in the powder during a laser build impacts on porosity and densification of the final material reducing its strength and quality.

Powders used for Additive Manufacturing should contain no moisture.

Relequa® Moisture Profiling™ is used to determine the Water Vapour Equilibrium Point (WVEP) of the dry powder. The WVEP is set as the Starting %RH in our new test that measures moisture status in just 2 minutes.

The graph shows the initial Relative Humidity (%RH) of 45% increases within the test chamber as a result of the powder releasing moisture. The increase in %RH caused the test to run past the expected 2 minute mark for a dry powder, continuing until the new moisture status of the sample was measured.

Relequa’s 2 minute test for moisture status answers these two vital questions:

Does the powder contain moisture?

When is the powder dry?

Don’t take a risk with moisture in your Additive Manufacturing Powders Talk with us now!

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Free Poster Moisture in Additive Manufacturing Powders

See our poster “Moisture in Additive Manufacturing Powders” that shows Moisture Release from 316 Stainless Steel AM Powder and how Relequa’s 2 minute test for moisture status answers these two vital questions: Does the powder contain moisture? When is the powder dry? Don’t take a risk with moisture in your Additive Manufacturing Powders.

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