Right choice of shielding gases for additive manufacturing (3D-printing )

3D printing involves the use of a variety of gases at different stages of the production chain. The latter essentially begins with the production of the powders used in 3D printing. Metallic powders are atomized with a gas jet to give them their spherical shape. Plastic powders, by contrast, undergo a cryogenic grinding process. This involves the use of liquid nitrogen. To guarantee their quality, some powders have to be permanently stored in a shielding gas atmosphere. Special containers filled with shielding gas are used for this purpose.

Depending on the specific process, printing a component involves the use of shielding gases, carrier gases and/or cooling gases. In the majority of printing processes, the type of gas required depends on the material and the printing process. This presentation shows the different processes and the right choice of shielding gases for the different materials.