Layer by layer: How to optimize additive manufacturing with better materials characterization

Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, can seem like something out of a sci-fi movie – but thanks to the latest technologies, it’s very much a reality today!

AM techniques are increasingly popular in industrial production, for both metal and polymer products. Of course, this makes accurate characterization of these raw materials more important than ever.

Why your materials matter

3D-printed structures are usually built layer upon layer, so consistency in the final product relies on the consistency of the materials being laid down. For example, in powder bed AM, where a laser or electron beam fuses the raw materials together, the quality of the finished component will depend on the properties and behavior of the metal, ceramic, or polymer powder being applied. And the same is true for other AM methods, which include binder jetting, fused deposition modeling, and stereolithography.

A well-rounded range of solutions for 3D printing

With Malvern Panalytical, you can be sure of finding a range of material characterization solutions that are ideal for AM applications. 

• Printing with polymers? Look to our OMNISEC instrument for analyzing molecular weight and structure. 
• Need crystallographic insights? Try our X-ray diffraction solutions: Empyrean and Aeris. 
• Investigating particle properties? Our Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction tool, online Insitec product, and Morphologi 4 automated imaging system are all ready and waiting to upgrade your analysis!

With such a wide variety of techniques and formats available, our characterization instruments can help manufacturers identify the ideal materials for your processes and optimize your AM operations. By ensuring consistency in your powder, you can predict its density and flow, and avoid variations in the quality of your end product. Just as importantly, you can assess and control the potential residual strain and stress in your printed components – and even improve the physical appearance and feel of the final 3D structure. 

As AM continues to carve out a place in the industrial manufacturing landscape, R&D on material properties needs to keep up. Malvern Panalytical’s support and broad array of characterization instruments allows you to build up a complete and accurate picture of your materials’ characteristics and take your 3D printing to a new dimension!

Join our additive manufacturing webinar for more info

Wherever you are in your AM journey, you won’t want to miss the latest insights from the field in our webinar on June 2, 2022: Explore 3D printing materials science. 

We’ll be joined by special guest speaker, Professor Rigoberto Advincula, to discuss different AM approaches, recent research developments, and – of course – materials characterization, with a particular focus on gel permeation chromatography.

Stay tuned for more content next year by following our Advanced Materials specialists on LinkedIn.

You can also be the first to read our industry updates by subscribing to our Advanced Materials newsletter here.