METHOD FOR MODIFYING THE PARTICLE SHAPE AND THE PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF ALUMINUM-BASED POWDERS

摘要

The invention relates to a method for modifying the particle shape and particle size distribution of an aluminum-based powder comprising aluminum-based particles of irregular shape and size, wherein the method comprises an annealing step in which a homogeneous mixture of (i) said aluminum-based powder comprising aluminum-based particles of irregular shape and size and (ii) a silica powder comprising silica particles having an average particle size of 5 µm or less is annealed at an annealing temperature of between the melting point of said aluminum-based powder and a temperature not higher than 150°C of said melting point, and in an atmosphere consisting of an the inert gas having a purity of 99.9999%, for a period of time lasting at least 10 seconds. The present invention also relates to the use of an aluminum-based powder as modified by the method according to the invention for additive manufacturing or 3D-printing.