Impact Of Binder Selection On Binder Jetting Of Hard Metal Parts

Additive manufacturing of hard metals is gaining attention for its ability to create complex parts and innovative designs. Binder Jetting (BJ) is particularly promising due to its low cost, fast production, and ability to produce stress- and crack-free parts with isotropic properties. The correct binder selection plays a significant role in determining both the green part properties and, especially, the depowdering performance. This study investigates the influence of two different binders (AQUAFUSE and CLEANFUSE-commercial designations) on the properties of hard metal parts manufactured by BJ using commercially available WC-12%Co powder (WOKA 3111FC). The green part properties (green density, green strength), as well as sintered part properties (density, shrinkage, and microstructure), obtained using each binder type, were evaluated and compared. The results suggest that binder selection is a critical factor in optimizing the performance of BJ-manufactured hard metal parts and highlight the potential of CLEANFUSE for applications requiring higher mechanical integrity.