Standardization Gaps in Powder Feedstock Characterization and Establishing Acceptability for Reuse in Additive Manufacturing

Characterization techniques for powder feedstocks used in additive manufacturing (AM) have long been relied upon to describe the inputs to an AM workflow. However, functional gaps remain between tests to measure intrinsic and extrinsic properties with the direct performance within AM equipment. Furthermore, the common practice of reusing powder through multiple build cycles introduces effects and changes to feedstock performance that are otherwise difficult to measure quantitatively. Standardization and the development of new test methods have not kept pace with the rapid evolution of the AM industry and its reliance on highly coupled process-structure–property-performance relationships.