QuesTek Material Enables Production of Complex Parts Via AM

QuesTek Innovations LLC, a developer of metal alloys and powders, has announced a stainless steel composition for powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (AM) for use either in the as-printed condition or with a single low-temperature heat treatment. This development enables the production of complex, high-strength stainless parts via AM, comparable to wrought 17-4 PH, without the need for cryogenic processing or high-temperature heat treatment. The project has been funded by the U.S. Navy Small Business Innovation Research program.

Two feedstock options are available: QT 17-4 for use in the direct aged condition and QT 17-4+ for use in the as-printed condition. The corrosion resistance and fatigue performance of both designed AM alloys is said to be equivalent or improved over AM material printed using commercially available 17-4 powders.

QuesTek’s 17-4 powders can be used in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, defense, medical, chemical processing and energy. QuesTek’s powder was developed using its Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) technologies and Materials by Design approach.

The QT 17-4 and QT 17-4+ powders are among a series of alloys QuesTek is developing for high performance, production-quality additive manufacturing applications.