A Comparative Analysis of the Results of Granulometric Analysis of Powder Materials Produced in the EU and PRC Used in Selective Laser Melting Technology

The paper discusses the problem of finding new suppliers of consumables for selective laser melting technology. Domestic industry today urgently needs diversification of production and expansion of commercial ties with countries that have not joined the so-called sanctions. Considering the high scientific, technical, and innovative potential of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the work pays attention to the powders of various metals produced in this country. A very successful attempt has been made to show that powders produced in PRC can be quite competitive in the domestic market and have every chance of being used in the production of products using the selective laser melting method. The materials obtained in the paper concerning the issues of granulometric analysis of powders may become the basis for filling out a database of powder materials used in additive manufacturing, and the powder analysis technique can be used in the procedures of the certification system for these materials. The obtained data show, through the example of the comparison of basic information parameters, the similarity of granulometric and morphological features of the powders, illustrating the possibility of their mutual use in selective laser melting. Experimental studies have been carried out using modern certified and verified equipment. The materials of the paper may be useful to technical engineers, who implement and use additive technologies in practice.