Authors:
Connor Quilter (1), Michael Head (1), Aurélien Neveu (2), Kate Black (1), Filip Francqui (2)
1- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
2- Granutools, Rue Jean-Lambert Defrêne, 107, 4340 Awans, Belgium
Abstract:
Powder bed-based methods are common in additive manufacturing (AM), where successive thin layers are created using a ruler or rotating cylinder. The homogeneity of the layers determines the mechanical quality of the built parts. However, the layer quality is directly related to the spreading properties of the feedstock, which relies mainly on the cohesiveness and rheology of the powder. Despite wide availability, iron ore has never been considered a suitable feedstock material for AM. If a viable iron ore feedstock could be produced for AM, it would enable the manufacture of bespoke agglomerates which could be used in blast furnaces to produce steel. This could reduce the thermal budget and considerably lower CO2 emissions in the steel sector. In this study, the spreadability of iron ore powders has been evaluated in a binder jet printer and correlated with its flowability and rheological properties evaluated with a rotating drum method[1].
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59499/EP235765118