{"id":7214,"date":"2025-03-08T15:24:25","date_gmt":"2025-03-08T14:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/?p=7214"},"modified":"2025-06-04T12:45:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T10:45:41","slug":"korngroesse-von-metallpulvern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/korngroesse-von-metallpulvern\/","title":{"rendered":"Grain size of metal powders - properties, applications and advantages for your production"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Why the right grain size is crucial<\/h2>\n<p>Choosing the right grain size for metal powders is an often underestimated but decisive factor for the quality and efficiency of industrial production processes.<\/p>\n<p>Among other things, the grain size influences the flow behaviour, sinterability, density and reactivity of the powder - and therefore also the properties of the end product. If you make the wrong choice here, you risk production errors, rejects and unnecessarily high costs.<\/p>\n<h3>What grain shapes are there?<\/h3>\n<p>Metal powders are available in different grain sizes and shapes, which vary depending on the manufacturing process and area of application. The most important are<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong>Spherical<\/strong> \u2192 Ideal for additive manufacturing (3D printing) due to excellent flow behaviour. These powders can be distributed very well and ensure a uniform powder bed density, which is essential for high-precision manufacturing methods such as selective laser melting (SLM).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Irregular\/spatulate<\/strong> \u2192 High compaction, well suited for sintering processes. The irregular shape allows the particles to interlock better, which improves the mechanical stability of the end product.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dendritic<\/strong> \u2192 High surface area, improves reactivity and sinterability. These powders have a tree-like structure and are particularly suitable for catalytic applications or sintering processes where high surface contacts are advantageous.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Platelet-shaped (flake)<\/strong> \u2192 Perfect for surface coatings and conductive applications. The platelet-like structure enables high coverage when coating surfaces, which is particularly advantageous in the electronics industry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Granular\/ground<\/strong> \u2192 Mechanically crushed, good for specific technical applications. These powders are produced by grinding processes and are particularly suitable for powder injection moulding.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Other grain shapes<\/strong> \u2192 Customised special solutions for special areas of application. If standard moulds are not sufficient, we offer customised powder solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How does the grain size influence the material properties?<\/h2>\n<p>The grain size has a significant influence on the properties of a metal powder. Smaller grain sizes offer a larger specific surface area, which favours chemical reactions or sintering. Larger grain sizes, on the other hand, improve the flow behaviour and handling during the production process.<\/p>\n\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"container\" data-elementor-id=\"7216\" class=\"elementor elementor-7216\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a6fbc66 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3a6fbc66\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c02b1a5 elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5c02b1a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"227\" src=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/scroll-02.svg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3847\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41bb2707 elementor-widget elementor-widget-jet-table\" data-id=\"41bb2707\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;headShake&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"jet-table.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-jet-table jet-elements\">\n\t\t<div class=\"jet-table-wrapper jet-table-responsive-mobile\">\n\t\t\t<table class=\"jet-table jet-table--fa5-compat\">\n\t\t\t\t<thead class=\"jet-table__head\"><tr class=\"jet-table__head-row\"><th class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-4211c65 jet-table__head-cell\" scope=\"col\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Feature<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/th><th class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-398390a jet-table__head-cell\" scope=\"col\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Fine-grained powders (&lt;20\u00b5m)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/th><th class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-7dbf3ab jet-table__head-cell\" scope=\"col\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Coarse-grained powders (&gt;100\u00b5m)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tbody class=\"jet-table__body\"><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-3e21f60\"><th class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-67407e3 jet-table__head-cell\" scope=\"row\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Flowability<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/th><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-c59ea93 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Low <span>(tends to agglomerate)<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-d03a7ae jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">High <span>(easier to dose)<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-41b9adb\"><th class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-5c7a4f7 jet-table__head-cell\" scope=\"row\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Reactivity<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/th><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-1fcea55 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Very high<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-fb55b9c jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Low<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-16f27e1\"><th class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-2907bcc jet-table__head-cell\" scope=\"row\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Compaction<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/th><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-a50ac71 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Very dense <span>(good for additive manufacturing)<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-cb1b28e jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Less dense<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-929fb37\"><th class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-5a0d344 jet-table__head-cell\" scope=\"row\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Processing<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/th><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-4b49edc jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Heavier <span>to process<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-b89001b jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Lighter <span>to process<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-79176a9\"><th class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-5a6d8cf jet-table__head-cell\" scope=\"row\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Surface<span>Enlargement<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/th><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-7228966 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">High <span>(promotes chemical<\/span> Reactions)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-527ce80 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Low<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody>\n\t\t\t<\/table>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Small particle sizes are essential for applications where high reactivity or uniform distribution are required, such as in additive manufacturing or in the chemical industry. Coarser particles, on the other hand, offer advantages in conventional casting processes as they are easier to dose and handle.<\/p>\n<h3>Examples from our range:<\/h3>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/ultrafeine-kupferpulver\/\">Ultrafine copper powder (1-2\u00b5m)<\/a><\/strong> \u2192 Perfect for 3D printing and high-precision applications as it offers excellent electrical conductivity and good processability.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/zirkoniumpulver-cl3\/\">Zirconium powder CL3 (&lt;88\u00b5m)<\/a><\/strong> \u2192 Ideal for pyrotechnics as it is reactive and enables targeted energy release.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/magnesium-legierungspulver-we43-standard\/\">Magnesium alloy powder WE43 (15-53\u00b5m)<\/a> <\/strong>\u2192 Controlled traces of smoke in the aviation industry thanks to high stability and low oxidation tendency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Application areas depending on grain size and shape<\/h2>\n<p>The grain size and shape are crucial for choosing the right powder for a specific application. Here are some typical applications:<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/metallpulver-additive-fertigung\/\">1. additive manufacturing (3D printing)<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>3D printing requires highly specific powders with a narrow particle size distribution and spherical shape to enable uniform layer formation. Metal powders for additive manufacturing must flow well and be able to be optimally compacted.<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong>Optimum grain shape:<\/strong> Spherical<\/li>\n<li><strong>Example powder:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/titanpulver-grade-5-ti-6al-4v\/\">Titanium powder grade 5 (Ti6Al4V)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/aluminium-silizium-pulver\/\">Aluminium silicon powder<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/metal-powder\/sinterformteile\/\">2. sintering &amp; powder injection moulding<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>During sintering, metal powders are solidified at high temperatures. Irregular or dendritic powder shapes are particularly advantageous here, as they enable good packing density and increase mechanical stability.<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong>Optimum grain shape:<\/strong> Irregular or dendritic<\/li>\n<li><strong>Example powder:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/nickelpulver\/\">Nickel powder<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/stahlpulver-316l\/\">Stainless steel 316L<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>3. <a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/metal-powder\/oberflaechenbeschichtung\/\">Surface coatings<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/metal-powder\/elektrotechnik\/\">Electronics<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>Powders for surface coatings should be either ultra-fine or flake-shaped to ensure even and effective coverage.<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong>Optimum grain shape:<\/strong> Flake or ultra-fine<\/li>\n<li><strong>Example powder:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/ultrafeines-kupferpulver-uf2\/\">Ultrafine copper powder UF2<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/wolfram-disulfid-ws2\/\">Tungsten disulphide powder (WS2)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/metal-powder\/luft-und-raumfahrt\/\">4. highly reactive applications (pyrotechnics, aviation)<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>In pyrotechnics or for special applications in aviation, fine and highly reactive metal powders are required that enable fast and targeted realisation.<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong>Optimum grain shape:<\/strong> Fine-grained or spherical<\/li>\n<li><strong>Example powder:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/magnesium-legierungspulver-we43-spezial\/\">Magnesium alloy powder WE43<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/zirkoniumpulver-cl3\/\">Zirconium powder CL3<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>NMD Metal Powders - Your partner for optimised grain sizes<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Why NMD?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong>Wide range of products:<\/strong> From ultra-fine to coarse-grained metal powders for every application.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Personalised advice:<\/strong> We help you to determine the optimum grain size for your production.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Highest quality:<\/strong> Strict controls ensure consistent and reliable product quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Warum die richtige Korngr\u00f6\u00dfe entscheidend ist Die Wahl der richtigen Korngr\u00f6\u00dfe von Metallpulvern ist ein oft untersch\u00e4tzter, aber entscheidender Faktor f\u00fcr die Qualit\u00e4t und Effizienz industrieller Fertigungsprozesse. Die Korngr\u00f6\u00dfe beeinflusst unter anderem Flie\u00dfverhalten, Sinterbarkeit, Dichte und Reaktivit\u00e4t des Pulvers \u2013 und damit auch die Eigenschaften des Endprodukts. Wer hier die falsche Wahl trifft, riskiert Produktionsfehler, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7215,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[8],"class_list":["post-7214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-metallpulver","tag-pulvermetallurgie"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7214"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7214\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmd-metalpowders.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}