Characterisation of CoCrMo powder for additive manufacturing

Different additive manufacturing (AM) technologies can help produce parts from various materials, but in order to achieve consistent and predictable properties and ensure high quality of 3D-printed objects, these materials shall possess specific properties. In this research, we studied initial properties of a cobalt-chrome-molybdenum-based superalloy powder by using sophisticated techniques such as the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE). The summarised results have shown dispersion of main components (Co, Cr, Mo), an attenuating of Co0.64Cr0.32Mo0.04 with Co0.9Mo0.1 phase, and differences in size, shape, surface roughness, structure and content of S, C, Mn and Si among individual particles. Depending on the particle surface structure, differences in the oxidation of particles have been found. According to Auger survey spectra, the smallest particles had a low concentration of Co and Cr oxides, while the smooth ones had higher contents of metal oxides. These findings could be used to predict behaviour of particles during the additive manufacturing process.