An unbiased life cycle evaluation (LCA) carried out by Oregon State College’s Industrial Sustainability Laboratory has produced findings that point out nickel powder produced from recycled feedstock can scale back world warming potential (GWP) by as much as 98.7%, when in comparison with typical virgin-material manufacturing.
The cradle-to-gate examine evaluated three manufacturing situations for nickel powder utilized in additive manufacturing. The baseline modeled typical fuel atomization utilizing 100% virgin nickel, and subsequent situations included reclaimed feedstock processed by Continuum Powders’ plasma arc atomization know-how at its Houston facility.
When recycled nickel feedstock changed virgin materials, modeled GWP dropped by 58.8% – that determine rose to 98.7% when lower-carbon electrical energy and argon sourcing have been added as further sustainability measures.
The LCA recognized argon and electrical energy because the dominant greenhouse fuel contributors in recycled-material situations. This implies feedstock choice and utility sourcing are two of essentially the most actionable variables for decreasing nickel powder manufacturing’s carbon depth.
Nickel powder serves as a crucial feedstock for high-performance parts utilized in aerospace propulsion, power infrastructure, oil and fuel gear, protection platforms, and high-temperature industrial functions. Producers in these sectors are coming underneath mounting stress to scale back emissions, strengthen home provide chains, and handle publicity to geopolitical provide threat.
The OSU findings go a way in direction of repositioning powder sourcing as a strategic determination for OEMs, service bureaus, and contract producers. Reclaimed feedstock reduces dependence on newly mined uncooked supplies. It additionally offers a measurable discount pathway to decrease Scope 3 emissions that the examine indicated doesn’t require adjustments to powder qualification requirements or mechanical efficiency standards.
Continuum Powders produces high-performance nickel alloy powders — together with grades 718, 625, and M247 — utilizing reclaimed feedstock by its Soften-to-Powder platform, which mixes licensed revert streams with superior atomization and course of controls at its Houston facility.
The corporate acknowledged the LCA outcomes are in keeping with its inside manufacturing knowledge.