Influence of Oxygen Content in Powder Feedstock on Microstructure and Properties of Nickel-alloy Fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

The primary obstacle for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is the high cost of feedstock materials. Powder reuse in LPBF is one of the most important strategies to reduce the cost. However, the oxygen content in the powder feedstock would increase with reuse. It is necessary to understand the relationship between the oxygen content and the part qualities of the LPBF products. In this study, Ni-Cr-Mo-based alloy feedstocks with different oxygen contents were prepared to evaluate the effect of oxygen on the part quality during powder reuse. It was revealed that the oxygen content did not affect the strength, hardness, and corrosion properties of the LPBF Ni-Cr-Mo-based alloy; however, it affected the elongation in tensile test.