Aluminium AlF357 Powder
Aluminium AlF357 powder is an aluminium alloy powder with excellent fluidity and thermal properties. This article provides an overview of AlF357 powder including its composition, key characteristics, production methods, applications, specifications, pricing, and comparisons to other aluminium powders.
Composition and Properties of Aluminium AlF357 Powder
AlF357 aluminium powder contains the following key alloying elements:
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Table of Contents
Aluminium AlF357 powder is an aluminium alloy powder with excellent fluidity and thermal properties. This article provides an overview of AlF357 powder including its composition, key characteristics, production methods, applications, specifications, pricing, and comparisons to other aluminium powders.
Composition and Properties of Aluminium AlF357 Powder
AlF357 aluminium powder contains the following key alloying elements:
| Element | Weight % |
|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 5-7% |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.35% max |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.15% max |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.05% max |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.05% max |
| Nickel (Ni) | 0.05% max |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.10% max |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.20% max |
| Other elem., each | 0.05% max |
| Other elem., total | 0.15% max |
| Aluminium (Al) | Balance |
The silicon and iron content gives AlF357 powder key properties including:
- Excellent fluidity – High silicon promotes outstanding flow and wettability for 3D printing
- High strength – Age hardening response results in high strength after heat treatment
- Good wear resistance – Resists erosion, abrasion and frictional wear
- Easy welding – Low cracking tendency and good weldability
- Good thermal properties – High conductivity and low expansion benefits thermal processes
Production of Aluminium AlF357 Powder
AlF357 powder can be produced through the following methods:
Gas Atomization
- Molten AlF357 alloy rapidly quenched into fine spherical powder
- Provides powder with smooth surface, high purity and flowability
- Common size range 10 – 180 μm
- Used for metal additive manufacturing processes
Water Atomization
- Lower energy process produces more irregular powder shapes
- Powder surface can be partially oxidized
- Larger particles than gas atomized powder; size range 45 – 710 μm
- Lower cost process suitable for pressed and sintered parts
Mechanical Milling
- Solid AlF357 alloy is mechanically ground into fine powder
- Angular and irregular powder morphology with wide size distribution
- Used mostly for thermal spray coatings and other applications without strict powder requirements
Applications of Aluminium AlF357 Powder
The properties of AlF357 powder make it suitable for:
Additive Manufacturing
- Excellent flowability facilitates smooth powder bed deposition
- Achievable feature resolution down to 100 μm
- As-printed parts reach tensile strength over 400 MPa after heat treatment
- Used for automotive, aerospace components, and industrial applications
Thermal Spray Coatings
- Creates durable and highly thermally conductive coatings
- Resists wear, abrasion and high temp corrosion
- Coatings maintain strengths over 120 MPa up to 300°C
Powder Metallurgy
- Excellent compressibility into complex net shape components
- Heat treatment achieves tensile strength exceeding 200 MPa
- Used for structural components in automotive and machinery
Specifications of Aluminium AlF357 Powder
AlF357 powder is available with various particle size distributions, manufactured to conform to industry quality standards:
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Available Particle Sizes | 10 – 45 μm; 15 – 75 μm; 45 – 150 μm |
| Average Particle Size | 22 μm; 45 μm; 90 μm |
| Production Standards | ASTM B214, AMS 4200, ISO 13318 |
| Apparent Density | ~1.3 g/cc |
| Tap Density | ~2.7 g/cc |
| Flow Rate | ~30 s/50 g |
| Purity | >99.7% |
| Surface Oxide | <0.5% |
Suppliers and Pricing of AlF357 Powder
AlF357 powder is sold by various leading metal powder manufacturers:
| Manufacturer | Product Name | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Sandvik | Osprey AlF357 | $50 – $120/kg |
| Carpenter Additive | AlF357 | $75 – $150/kg |
| LPW Technology | AlSi7Mg0.6 Feedstock | $40 – $100/kg |
| Praxair | F357 Aluminum Powder | $60 – $140/kg |
Price varies based on order volume, particle size distribution, gas vs water atomization, and purity. Small R&D scale batches tend to cost over $100/kg. Bulk prices can be below $50/kg for lower grade powder.
Comparison to Alternate Aluminium Alloys
AlF357 has some advantages over other common aluminium alloys:
Vs. AlSi10Mg Powder
- AlSi10Mg has slightly better tensile strength
- AlF357 has higher thermal conductivity and operating temp
- AlF357 powder flows better during printing or pressing
Vs. Al6061 Powder
- Al6061 forms heat treatable precipitation hardened alloy
- AlF357 achieves considerably higher as-printed strength
- AlF357 has lower coefficient of thermal expansion
Vs. Pure Aluminium
- Pure Al has excellent thermal properties but very low strength
- AlF357 has drastically higher strengths exceeding 400 MPa
- AlF357 retains respectable thermal conductivity
FAQs
Q: What is AlF357 powder used for?
A: AlF357 is commonly used to create strong 3D printed components, thermal spray coatings, and pressed & sintered parts for aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications requiring good thermal properties and high strength.
Q: Does AlF357 powder require heat treatment?
A: Yes, heat treatment via solution treatment, quenching and aging hardening is necessary to achieve the high tensile strengths over 400 MPa that AlF357 is known for. In the as-printed condition, it reaches moderate strengths around half that.
Q: What processing methods can use AlF357 powder?
A: AlF357 powder is compatible with binder jetting, directed energy deposition, powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. It can also be used to produce coatings via thermal spray or cold spray. Compacting and sintering also employs AlF357 powder.
Q: Is AlF357 powder expensive?
A: Prices range widely from around $50/kg to $150/kg depending on quantity ordered, exact composition, particle characteristics, production method (gas vs. water atomized), and supplier. It costs more than popular alternatives like AlSi10Mg powder.
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