Additive manufacturing (AM) system provider, EOS, has expanded its portfolio of metal materials with the introduction of EOS NickelAlloy HX. The heat- and corrosion-resistant nickel-chrome-iron-molybdenum alloy has high strength and resistance to oxidisation, even at elevated temperatures up to 1,200ºC.

The material is optimised for use in the EOSINT M 280 metal system and is usually processed with a layer thickness of 20 µm. Typical application areas include aerospace, heating elements in conveyor ovens, and industrial blast furnaces.

Andreas Graichen, Product Developer (Gas Turbines) at Siemens Energy said: “We use EOS' additive manufacturing process for constructing prototypes, rapid manufacturing and rapid repair. Thanks to this technology, we are able to cut repair times and reduce costs for customers that commission us to repair industrial gas turbines.

"The material's properties make it ideally suited to repair, as it is able to withstand the high temperatures to which gas turbines are constantly exposed.

"For gas turbine burner repair, for example, instead of cutting away and discarding a large part of the burner head, we leave the structure intact, remove the top 20 mm or so, and then simply print a new combustion head. The process delivers significant savings both in terms of repair times and costs.”

Parts built from EOS NickelAlloy HX can be subsequently heat-treated to modify the characteristics of the material. Whether hardened or as originally built, parts can be finished as required and surplus unexposed material can be re-used.