MT Aerospace AG, based in Augsburg, Germany, has collaborated with Outokumpu, headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, to develop a modified 316L stainless steel powder and validate its Therma-253-MA stainless steel powder.
Designed to meet the aerospace industry’s precision and performance requirements, the modified 316L stainless steel powder is suited to components produced using Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) Additive Manufacturing.
To demonstrate that the metal powder concept is ready for practical use, MT Aerospace AG additively manufactured a complex heat exchanger for an aerospace application.
“3D printing with metal powder supports the reliability of complex geometries,” stated Robert Bonné, AM Sales Manager at MT Aerospace. “Outokumpu’s deep metallurgical material expertise, combined with our know-how in Additive Manufacturing and aerospace engineering, has led to practical solutions that enhance tailored performance and durability for next-generation precision-manufactured components in the aerospace industry.”
Therma-253-MA stainless steel powder
MT Aerospace also announced it has validated the forming properties and performance of Outokumpu’s Therma-253-MA stainless steel powder. Therma-253-MA is described as a resource-efficient, cost-effective stainless steel alloy, developed as an alternative to nickel-based materials for high-temperature applications.
As a proof of concept, another heat exchanger prototype was manufactured using Therma-253-MA powder. The result reportedly demonstrates the alloy’s potential in terms of lightweight construction, robustness, and temperature resistance, attributes required to meet the stringent specifications for aerospace components.
Outokumpu reported it intends to expand its powder portfolio to include nickel-based alloys such as Alloy 718 following the collaboration model developed with MT Aerospace.
Author: Andy Cormack
