Osprey® C18150 is a copper chromium zirconium (CuCrZr) alloy that offers a combination of strength, conductivity, wear and oxidation resistance. It can withstand service temperatures up to 500°C (932°F) and is commonly used in, for example, various automotive and space applications, including resistance welding and soldering.
Additive Manufacturing processes, including Laser – Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF), employ optimized process conditions or even green lasers to safely produce designs with complex internal structures for heat transfer and cooling. Osprey® C18150 is also available as a fine powder for Binder Jetting, as well as for Metal Injection Moulding (MIM).
Osprey® metal powder is manufactured by Inert Gas Atomization (IGA), producing a powder with a spherical morphology which provides good flow characteristics and high packing density. In addition, the powder has a low oxygen content and low impurity levels, resulting in a metallurgically clean product with enhanced mechanical performance.
Typical applications
- Electrical and electronic components
- Thermal transfer applications
- Space rocket engine and nozzle components
| Cu | Cr | Fe | Zr | Si | O |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bal. | 0.50-1.20 | ≤0.08 | 0.03-0.30 | ≤0.1 | ≤0.1 |
Powder characteristics and morphology
Powder for Additive Manufacturing
Osprey® metal powder for Additive Manufacturing is characterized by a spherical morphology and high packing density, which confer good flow properties. For powder bed processes these are essential when applying fresh powder layers to the bed to ensure uniform and consistent part build.
For blown powder processes, such as Direct Energy Deposition (DED), good flow ensures uniform build rates. Tight control of the particle size distribution also helps ensure good flowability. Low oxygen powders result in clean microstructures and low inclusion levels in the finished parts.
Powder for Metal Injection Moulding (MIM)
Osprey® MIM powder has a spherical morphology, resulting in high packing density. This enables the manufacture of feedstocks with high powder loading, which not only minimizes binder costs but also reduces part shrinkage during debinding and sintering. Spherical powder also has excellent flow characteristics, resulting in reduced tool wear and consistent mould filling.
Osprey® MIM powder's low oxygen content allows better control of carbon and consistency during sintering. Low oxygen levels, together with high packing density, also facilitate faster sintering.
Particle size distribution
Powder for Additive Manufacturing
Osprey® metal powder for Additive Manufacturing is available in a wide range of particle size distributions that are tailored to the individual Additive Manufacturing systems. They can also be tailored to the particular requirements of the end application, both in terms of mechanical performance and surface finish.
| Process technology | Size (µm) |
|---|---|
| Binder jetting | ≤ 16, ≤ 22, ≤ 32, ≤ 38, ≤ 45 |
| Laser - Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) | 15 to 53 and 10 to 45 |
| Electron beam - Powder Bed Fusion (E-PBF) | 45 to 106 |
| Direct Energy Deposition (DED) | 53 to 150 |
Powder for Metal Injection Moulding (MIM)
Osprey® metal powder for Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) is available in a wide range of particle size distributions, from under 5 μm up to 38 μm. The table shows our standard particle size distributions for MIM powders.
| Size (μm) | D10 (μm) | D50 (μm) | D90 (μm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 38 | 5.5 | 13.0 | 31.0 |
| ≤ 32 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 29.0 |
| 80% ≤ 22 | 4.5 | 11.5 | 27.0 |
| 90% ≤ 22 | 4.0 | 10.5 | 22.0 |
| 90% ≤ 16 | 3.5 | 8.0 | 16.0 |
* Particle size measurements performed using a Malvern laser particle size analyzer, typical D10, D50 and D90 provided.
Tailor-made particle size distributions are available on request. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements.
Microstructure
Microstructure of Osprey® C18150 produced by Binder Jetting
Samples of material produced by Binder Jetting (-18 µm) on the Desktop Metal Production System™ P-1 where a relative density over 98% was achieved. The sintered microstructures in as-polished and etched condition are shown below where a low level of porosity is seen and overall a homogenous and fine-grained microstructure.
Mechanical properties
Typical mechanical properties for Binder jetting (BJ) printed Osprey® C18150 material evaluated in room temperature in as sintered as well as machined condition. The material is sintered at 1,068°C (1,954°F) followed by solution heat treatment at 980°C (1,796°F)/3h/water quenching and aging at 480°C (896°F)/5h/furnace cooling.
For comparison, typical mechanical properties for Laser – Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) is included in the table.
| Condition | Yield strength | Tensile strength | Elongation | Hardness, HRB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rp0.2 | Rm | A | ||
| MPa | MPa | % | ||
| BJ, as sintered | 233 +/- 7 | 345 +/- 8 | 28 +/- 4 | 58 |
| BJ, machined | 249 +/- 5 | 361 +/- 5 | 26 +/- 3 | 58 |
| L-PBF, as printed | 160 | 210 | 40 | – |
| L-PBF, solution annealed and age hardened | 210 | 340 | 25 | – |
| Condition | Yield strength | Tensile strength | Elongation, % | Hardness, HRB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rp0.2 | Rm | A | ||
| ksi | ksi | % | ||
| BJ, as sintered | 34 +/- 1 | 50 +/- 1 | 28 +/- 4 | 58 |
| BJ, machined | 36 +/- 1 | 52 +/- 1 | 26 +/- 3 | 58 |
| L-PBF, as printed | 23 | 30 | 40 | – |
| L-PBF, solution annealed and age hardened | 30 | 49 | 25 | – |
Physical properties
Wrought material data
- Density: 8.9 g/cm3
- Thermal conductivity: 324 W/m K
Testing
All Osprey® metal powders are supplied with a certificate of analysis containing information on the chemical composition and particle size distribution. Information on other powder characteristics is available upon request.
Packaging
A wide range of packaging options is available, from 5kgs plastic bottles to 250kg metal drums.
- 5 kg (11 lbs) Plastic bottles
- 6 kg (13 lbs) Plastic bottles
- 10 kg (22 lbs) Plastic bottles
- 20 kg (44 lbs) Metal cans
- 100 kg (220 lbs) Steel drums
- 150 kg (330 lbs) Steel drums
- 250 kg (551 lbs) Steel drums
All packaging materials are suitable for air, sea and road freight.
Contact us for more information and to discuss your packaging requirements.