Why Choose Copper Powder for 3D Printing??

Copper powder excels as a material for industrial additive manufacturing due to its exceptional thermal conductivity (>400 W/mK) and electrical conductivity (100% IACS). ?XiaoJiao Technology? utilizes high-sphericity copper powder (15-53μm particle size) and ?SLM (Selective Laser Melting)? technology to achieve >99% part density, overcoming the high reflectivity challenges of traditional copper processing.

Key Types of 3D Printing Copper Powder

Understanding the different copper powder types is critical for selecting the right material for your application. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the most common categories:

1.Electrolytic Copper Powder

● Production: Produced via electrolysis of copper sulfate solutions, resulting in dendritic particles with high purity (99.95%+).

● Pros: Low cost, excellent electrical conductivity (98-101% IACS), high surface area for bonding.

● Cons: Irregular particle shape (branched structure) leads to poor flowability (angle of repose >35°), unsuitable for complex 3D printing geometries.

●Applications: Traditional powder metallurgy, brazing, and basic electrical components.

2.Atomized Copper Powder

Subtypes:

● Water Atomization: Produced by spraying molten copper with high-pressure water, resulting in irregular, angular particles. Cheaper but lower purity (99.5-99.8%).

● Gas Atomization (VIGA): Uses inert gas (argon/helium) to break molten copper into spherical particles. Achieves 99.95%+ purity, superior flowability (<30° angle of repose), and narrow particle size distribution (15-45μm).

● Pros: Spherical morphology ensures uniform layer deposition in SLM printers, critical for complex parts like cooling channels.

● Cons: Higher cost than electrolytic powder (20-30% premium).

● Applications: Industrial 3D printing, aerospace heat exchangers, and EV battery components.

3.Nanoscale Copper Powder

●Production: Synthesized via chemical reduction or physical vapor deposition (PVD), achieving particle sizes <100nm.

●Pros: Ultra-high surface area (up to 10 m2/g) enables catalytic activity, antimicrobial properties, and enhanced thermal conductivity.

● Cons: High production cost (2-5x conventional powders) and susceptibility to oxidation without proper storage.

● Applications: Catalysts for chemical reactions, conductive inks for electronics, and high-performance lubricants.

4.Alloy Copper Powder (e.g., CuCrZr)

● Composition: Copper alloyed with chromium (0.6-0.8%) and zir