Fabrication of Metal Gas Filter by Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing Process

Abstract

Recently, 3D printing processes have been used to manufacture metal powder filters with manufacturing complex-shape. In this study, metal powder filters of various shapes were manufactured using the metal extrusion additive manufacturing (MEAM) process, which is used to manufacture three-dimensional structures by extruding a filament consisting of a metal powder and a binder. Firstly, filaments were prepared by appropriately mixing SUS316 powder with sizes ranging from 7.5 µm to 50 µm and a binder. These filaments were extruded at temperatures of 100℃ to 160℃ depending on the type of filament being manufactured, to form three types of cylindrical filter. Specimens were sintered in a high vacuum atmosphere furnace at 850℃ to 1050℃ for 1 hour after debinding. The specimens were analyzed for permeability using a capillary flow porometer, porosity was determined by applying Archimedes’ law and microstructure was observed using SEM.

Keywords

• gas filter
• additive manufacturing
• stainless steel
• porosity
• powder size