Kennametal Inc. announced the launch of KAR85-AM-K, its most corrosion-resistant tungsten carbide grade for metal additive manufacturing. It is available exclusively in combination with Kennametal’s binder jet 3D printing capabilities to produce fully finished wear components. With KAR85-AM-K, Kennametal combines the advantages of 3D printing, such as greater design flexibility and shorter lead times, with the performance of conventional carbide, to produce high-performance parts for customers in oil and gas, power generation and beyond. Components made with the new grade are already in field trials with select customers.
Kennametal developed KAR85-AM-K to provide corrosion- and wear-resistant properties analogous to its conventional counterpart grade, CN13S. KAR85-AM-K results in fully densified, corrosion-resistant components that meet or exceed the properties of conventionally manufactured carbide components.
The new grade composition features a proprietary blend of cobalt, nickel, and chromium for improved corrosion resistance compared to standard cobalt-based tungsten grades. It is Kennametal’s second commercial carbide grade developed for use in its binder jetting additive manufacturing processes and the latest addition to the business’s portfolio of high-performance metal powders optimized for 3D printing.
