Kennametal Inc. announced the launch of KAR85-AM-K, its most corrosion resistant tungsten carbide grade for metal additive manufacturing. It is available exclusively in combination with Kennametal’s binder jet 3D printing capabilities to produce fully finished wear components. With KAR85-AM-K, Kennametal combines the advantages of 3D printing, such as greater design flexibility and shorter lead times, with the performance of conventional carbide, to produce high-performance parts for customers in oil and gas, power generation and beyond. Components made with the new grade are already in field trials with select customers.

Drawing on its deep materials science expertise, Kennametal developed KAR85-AM-K to provide corrosion and wear resistant properties analogous to its conventional counterpart grade, CN13S. Combined with Kennametal’s binder jet additive manufacturing capabilities, KAR85-AM-K results in fully dense, corrosion resistant components that meet or exceed the properties of conventionally manufactured carbide components.

The new grade composition features a proprietary blend of cobalt, nickel, and chromium for improved corrosion resistance compared to standard cobalt-based tungsten grades. It is Kennametal’s second commercial carbide grade developed for use in its binder jetting additive manufacturing processes and the latest addition to the business’s portfolio of high-performance metal powders optimized for 3D printing.

Kennametal Additive Manufacturing
www.kennametal.com