Scrap to Metal Powder: Circular Metal AM for Increased Resource Efficiency and Resilience
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Chalmers Tekniska Högskola AB - Chalmers Tekniska Högskola Inst f Industri- & materialvetensk |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 000 000 |
| Project duration | October 2024 - April 2025 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Impact Innovation Net Zero industry - Program-specific efforts |
| Call | Impact Innovation: Increased resource efficiency and resilience, stage 1 |
Important results from the project
The project goal to provide a proof-of-concept concerning the possibility to reuse scrap material from additive manufacturing for manufacturing high-value powder for AM was reached. By melting and atomization of metal scrap and disqualified metal powder, powders with comparable quality to the virgin powder were produced. Physical properties of re-atomized metal powder were in accordance with the requirements for PBF-LB. Produced powder showed excellent processability by PBF-LB.
Expected long term effects
SCARLETT provides a clear indication that residual materials from AM and metalworking can be reused for powder production with maintained quality. The life cycle analysis shows clear environmental benefits, which opens up more sustainable material flows. SCARLETT show the possibility to create a functioning powder reuse and recycling chain for materials containing critical raw materials (CRM), which can contribute to reduced import dependence and strengthened resilience.
Approach and implementation
SCARLETT project was based on comprehensive approach combining academic excellence and industrial know-how in powder reuse, powder recycling and powder atomization, PBF-LB process development and AM manufacturing of high-value metal components, covering the full AM value chain. Project involved reatomisation of the powder material for AM, integration of novel processing by PBF-LB and life cycle analysis, resulting in successful proof-of-concept, not reported in the literature until now.