Micro-X-ray-CT for analysis of particle size segregation during powder spreading in Binder Jet Printing

The uniformity of the powder bed in Binder Jet Printing can impact the final properties of additively manufactured components. Granular flow phenomena, such as particle size segregation can influence the uniformity of the powder bed. Due to the 3D nature of the powder bed and the standard requiremen...

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Main Authors: Julia G. Behnsen, Joseph W. Roberts, Oliver J. Rogan, James M. McArdle, Kate Black
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Additive Manufacturing Letters
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772369024000744
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author Julia G. Behnsen
Joseph W. Roberts
Oliver J. Rogan
James M. McArdle
Kate Black
author_facet Julia G. Behnsen
Joseph W. Roberts
Oliver J. Rogan
James M. McArdle
Kate Black
author_sort Julia G. Behnsen
collection DOAJ
description The uniformity of the powder bed in Binder Jet Printing can impact the final properties of additively manufactured components. Granular flow phenomena, such as particle size segregation can influence the uniformity of the powder bed. Due to the 3D nature of the powder bed and the standard requirement for sintering parts following printing, direct experimental observation of the particle distribution and packing density can be difficult. The use of Micro-X-ray-CT however, enables the high-resolution imaging of components manufactured by binder jetting and allows quantification of particle size distribution and packing density throughout the powder bed. This study analyses the periodicity of effects such as in-layer particles size segregation and packing density. The results presented here show that particles segregate by size within each layer of the binder jet printed sample, which resulted in a periodic density change within each layer. The particle size distribution changes over the length of the power-bed, with the volume fraction of smaller particles increased near the front of the powder bed, and the volume fraction of larger particles increased near the back. The insights gained from the Micro-X-ray-CT characterisation approach allow for an enhanced understanding of the powder spreading process in additive manufacturing, paving the way forward for possible part optimisation.
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series Additive Manufacturing Letters
spelling doaj-art-489fc8eaf0ec44869466400353e406e52025-01-17T04:52:28ZengElsevierAdditive Manufacturing Letters2772-36902025-02-0112100266Micro-X-ray-CT for analysis of particle size segregation during powder spreading in Binder Jet PrintingJulia G. Behnsen0Joseph W. Roberts1Oliver J. Rogan2James M. McArdle3Kate Black4School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GH, United Kingdom; Corresponding author.Atomik, 1st Floor, Block D Waterhouse Building, 3 Brownlow Street, Liverpool, L69 3GI, United KingdomAtomik, 1st Floor, Block D Waterhouse Building, 3 Brownlow Street, Liverpool, L69 3GI, United KingdomAtomik, 1st Floor, Block D Waterhouse Building, 3 Brownlow Street, Liverpool, L69 3GI, United KingdomSchool of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GH, United Kingdom; Atomik, 1st Floor, Block D Waterhouse Building, 3 Brownlow Street, Liverpool, L69 3GI, United KingdomThe uniformity of the powder bed in Binder Jet Printing can impact the final properties of additively manufactured components. Granular flow phenomena, such as particle size segregation can influence the uniformity of the powder bed. Due to the 3D nature of the powder bed and the standard requirement for sintering parts following printing, direct experimental observation of the particle distribution and packing density can be difficult. The use of Micro-X-ray-CT however, enables the high-resolution imaging of components manufactured by binder jetting and allows quantification of particle size distribution and packing density throughout the powder bed. This study analyses the periodicity of effects such as in-layer particles size segregation and packing density. The results presented here show that particles segregate by size within each layer of the binder jet printed sample, which resulted in a periodic density change within each layer. The particle size distribution changes over the length of the power-bed, with the volume fraction of smaller particles increased near the front of the powder bed, and the volume fraction of larger particles increased near the back. The insights gained from the Micro-X-ray-CT characterisation approach allow for an enhanced understanding of the powder spreading process in additive manufacturing, paving the way forward for possible part optimisation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772369024000744X-ray computed tomographyBinder jettingAdditive manufactureParticle size distribution packing densityIn-layer particle size segregation
spellingShingle Julia G. Behnsen
Joseph W. Roberts
Oliver J. Rogan
James M. McArdle
Kate Black
Micro-X-ray-CT for analysis of particle size segregation during powder spreading in Binder Jet Printing
Additive Manufacturing Letters
X-ray computed tomography
Binder jetting
Additive manufacture
Particle size distribution packing density
In-layer particle size segregation
title Micro-X-ray-CT for analysis of particle size segregation during powder spreading in Binder Jet Printing
title_full Micro-X-ray-CT for analysis of particle size segregation during powder spreading in Binder Jet Printing
title_fullStr Micro-X-ray-CT for analysis of particle size segregation during powder spreading in Binder Jet Printing
title_full_unstemmed Micro-X-ray-CT for analysis of particle size segregation during powder spreading in Binder Jet Printing
title_short Micro-X-ray-CT for analysis of particle size segregation during powder spreading in Binder Jet Printing
title_sort micro x ray ct for analysis of particle size segregation during powder spreading in binder jet printing
topic X-ray computed tomography
Binder jetting
Additive manufacture
Particle size distribution packing density
In-layer particle size segregation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772369024000744
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AT oliverjrogan microxrayctforanalysisofparticlesizesegregationduringpowderspreadinginbinderjetprinting
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