Sandvik launches 3D printing material Osprey C18150 on the market

Sandvik launches Osprey C18150 (CuCrZr), a copper-based metal powder tailored for applications that require excellent mechanical strength at high temperatures while maintaining high electrical and thermal conductivity.

Osprey C18150 is therefore particularly suitable for electrical, electronic and thermal transmission components in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive and space technology.

The Osprey C18150 alloy consists mainly of copper, supplemented by small additions of chromium and zirconium. This combination is designed to balance the high conductivity and heat dissipation capacity of copper with a high level of strength. This balance is maintained even at elevated temperatures, thanks to the precipitation of Cr- and Zr-rich particles as the material ages. The alloy has been developed both as a fine powder for Metal Injection Molding (MIM) and Binder Jetting (BJ) using Osprey High Yield Technology, and as a coarser powder for Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) and Direct Energy Deposition (DED).

Dr. Eleonora Bettini, Customer Application Specialist for metal powder at Sandvik, says: “Our metal powder portfolio continues to grow, and we are very excited about our latest addition, Osprey C18150. With our wide range of Osprey C18150 powders, with customized properties and particle size distributions, manufacturers from a variety of industries can enjoy the many benefits that this material has to offer.”

So far, the powder has already been tested and qualified with several customers in different industries and for different applications. A particularly appreciated benefit is the batch-to-batch consistency, which is especially crucial for manufacturers of high value, high quality applications where predictability is absolutely critical.

Osprey C18150 is available for the additive manufacturing process through the Osprey Online webshop (Europe) and KBM Advanced Materials (USA), but is also available in other fractions and for other manufacturing technologies through Sandvik’s sales representatives.