Material suggestion for 3D printing

[RnDrone]

I'm looking to replace some cast WC with a 3d printed coating and hoping for suggestions on materials that would have comparable or better performance in ASTM G65 and impact testing.

Any materials or chemistries that anyone thinks might do well?

 

[TugboatEng]

Is WC tungsten carbide? If it's coated is abrasion resistance important? For impact, just about every material is better than tungsten carbide.

 

[EdStainless]

Except for additive where there is exactly zero impact and fatigue data.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[RnDrone]

Indeed, Ed. I'm looking to establish that data. Just wondering if anyone had ideas for materials to try.

Abrasion resistance is the primary concern, but the tungsten carbide is very expensive to make and attach. Impact is the next most important, which is definitely where the WC falls down.

I realize I won't be able to make it wear better than WC, but if I can get close and improve impact resistance I should be happy.

 

[EdStainless]

I am with Tub, no idea what "cast WC" is.
I should elaborate.
With additive every new part is unique.
You don't know the properties until you make one and test it.
Then if you change powder sources, or build orientation, or machine you have to test all over again.
The properties in AM are highly directional, and this mean all properties both mechanical and physical.
If your current part has a complex geometry and/or is an assembly of many parts, and it has a large margin of safety then AM might be a great option.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[RnDrone]

Cast Tungsten Carbide K30.

I'm aware that there are a million variables, what you mentioned and more. I have a feeling that temperature of the shop, humidity, elevation from sea level, whether or not it is a Friday, all come into play.
I've been experimenting and isolating variables in the machine since March, and I'm ready to take some ideas to a wear tester to compare materials in a side by side test, so again, the question is does anyone know of any materials that might be good candidates to test?

I'm hoping next year that I can buy my own G65 tester so I can run hundreds of tests to see what laser power, etc. settings give the best results on a given material.

I could likely have any chemistry I wanted make into a powder that I could print with, I just don't know enough metallurgy to know what to ask for.

 

[TugboatEng]

Is this some sort of cutting tool application or is it just a wearing surface? Does it need to maintain its dimensions in an abrasive environment or just resist wearing away?

 

[RnDrone]

More like a wear surface, the conditions are very similar to the G65 wear test, hence my excitement to get one.
Really just needs to resist wearing away, there is no hope of maintaining dimensions in such an abrasive environment. Just need to survive as long as possible.

 

[RnDrone]

Well I'll also say that if there was a material that could maintain dimensions under those conditions I'd test the hell out of that as well, was just trying to be realistic.