EOS Expands Metals Portfolio With Immediate Commercial Availability of EOS NickelAlloy HX

Krailling EOS (Novi, MI), technology and market-leader for design-driven, integrated e-manufacturing solutions in the Additive Manufacturing (AM) sector, is expanding its portfolio of metal materials with the immediate commercial introduction of EOS NickelAlloy HX.

The heat- and corrosion-resistant nickel-chrome-iron-molybdenum alloy distinguishes itself through a high degree of strength and resistance to oxidization, even at high temperatures. For this reason it will see frequent application in temperatures up to 1,200ºC. The material is optimized for processing in the EOSINT M 280 metal system, and is typically processed with a layer-thickness of 20 µm.

Christiane Krempl, product marketing manager metals, describes potential applications for the alloy: “The material is particularly well suited for deployment in applications that are exposed to high thermal forces giving rise to a significant risk of oxidization. Typical areas of deployment that we are seeing include aerospace, with combustion chambers and their component parts. The material is also ideal for use in heating elements, in conveyor ovens, or industrial blast furnaces.”

Andreas Graichen, product developer (Gas Turbines) at Siemens Energy adds: “We use EOS’ additive manufacturing process for constructing prototypes, for ‘rapid manufacturing,’ and ‘rapid repair.’ Thanks to this technology we are able to cut times and thereby reduce costs for customers commissioning us in the repair of industrial gas turbines. In the construction process we use the Nickel Alloy HX. Its material properties make it ideally suited for repair works, as it is able to withstand the high temperatures to which the gas turbines are constantly exposed.”

He adds, “For the repair, the complete burner is brought into the tailor-made EOS-Metal System: We leave the structure intact, remove the outer 20mm, and then simply print a new combustion-head. This process ensures significant savings both in terms of times and costs.”

Parts built from EOS NickelAlloy HX can be subsequently heat-treated in order to partially modify the characteristics of the material. Whether hardened or in their original built form, parts can be finished as required, and surplus unexposed material can be re-used.

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