Stellite 6 Powder Produced by PREP Process
Stellite 6 Alloy
Stellite 6 is a super alloy based on cobalt. Its most notable feature is its high hardness, excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance.These properties are typically achieved through the dispersion of a large amount of carbide hard phases (such as Cr7C3) within the cobalt-based solid solution, achieving a good balance between hardness and toughness, and are particularly suitable for additive manufacturing and surface engineering fields.
PREP Process of Stellite 6 powder
Plasma Rotating Electrode Atomization Powder Production (PREP) Stellite 6 is a process that heats the high-speed rotating Stellite 6 ingot with a non-circular plasma heat source to form a liquid metal film. This film is then broken into tiny droplets by centrifugal force and rapidly solidifies to form powder.
- Chemical composition of the powder (wt%)
The PREP-processed Stellite 6 powder has a lower oxygen and nitrogen content.
- Powder characteristics, SEM image of Stellite 6 by PREP
Stellite 6 powder by PREP shows a smooth surface, good spherical shape, few satellite particles and hollow particles, and excellent fluidity.
- Microstructure
Microstructure of Stellite 6 with PSD 15-53um by PREP after corrosion test
It features the finest and most uniform internal rapid solidification structure, making it the most ideal powder particle size range for laser additive manufacturing (L-PBF).
- Characteristics of Stellite 6 parts Produced by PREP Powder
Mechanical properties
| Hardness (HRC) | Impact Toughness（J/cm2） |
| 54.2±2.4 | 13.6 |
It showed a good balance between hardness and toughness.
- Application
It is good choice for the bearings of main pumps or valve seat.
The Stellite alloy powder, with its outstanding strength and toughness, is reshaping the boundaries of industrial manufacturing. Its application potential is continuously expanding, ranging from valve sealing surfaces, pump sleeves, bearing sleeves to aerospace components. In the future, with the deepening of 3D printing technology and heat treatment processes, the Stellite powder will be more widely utilized in high-value-added fields.
