Overview
RS&M 316L water-atomized stainless steel powder, 150 mesh, is our entry SKU for sintered metal filter cartridge customers. Cut point ≈100 µm with a typical D50 in the 75–90 µm band; morphology is the irregular cauliflower characteristic of water atomization. This morphology produces predictable inter-particle necking during sintering and is preferred for the coarse support layer of multi-layer cartridge constructions.
Chemistry (typical, conforms to UNS S31603 / ASTM A276)
| Element | Range (wt%) | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| C | ≤ 0.030 | 0.020 |
| Cr | 16.0 – 18.0 | 16.8 |
| Ni | 10.0 – 14.0 | 11.5 |
| Mo | 2.0 – 3.0 | 2.3 |
| Mn | ≤ 2.0 | 1.5 |
| Si | ≤ 1.0 | 0.6 |
| P | ≤ 0.045 | 0.018 |
| S | ≤ 0.030 | 0.012 |
| N | ≤ 0.10 | 0.05 |
| Fe | Balance | — |
Every shipment ships with OES-measured per-batch chemistry on the CoA.
Physical properties (typical)
| Property | Method | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| Sieve cut point | Mechanical sieving | 150 mesh (≈100 µm) passing |
| D10 / D50 / D90 | Laser diffraction (wet) | 35 / 80 / 105 µm |
| Apparent density | ASTM B212 | 2.7–3.0 g/cm³ |
| Tap density | ASTM B527 | 3.5–3.9 g/cm³ |
| Oxygen content | LECO (inert-gas fusion) | ≤ 3000 ppm |
| Hall flow rate | ASTM B213 | Typically non-flowing (irregular morphology) |
Note: water-atomized irregular particles typically register as “non-flowing” in a Hall flowmeter — this is a property of the morphology, not a defect. PM customers who need a flow proxy should reference tap density and angle of repose.
Recommended applications
- Coarse support layer of sintered metal filter cartridges — provides mechanical strength and back-pulse durability as the outermost or innermost layer of a multi-layer construction.
- Medium-precision single-layer cartridges — a single-layer sintered build of 150-mesh powder typically yields filtration efficiency in the 20–40 µm range, depending on sintering profile and green density.
- Press-and-sinter PM structural parts — cost-sensitive stainless components without complex geometry.
Packaging & delivery
- Vacuum-sealed inner pouch in sealed steel drums (typically 25 kg / 50 kg / 200 kg)
- Palletized, sea-freight-ready packaging
- Labels carry lot number, chemistry batch ID, PSD batch ID, production date
- MOQ: 25 kg (stocked SKU); 1 kg samples are free of charge
Outside our process window
- Spherical powder with sphericity > 80% — refer to gas-atomized or plasma-spheroidized partners
- Oxygen content < 1000 ppm — requires dedicated secondary reduction, send a spec for evaluation
- LPBF / SLM additive manufacturing grade — PSD and flow requirements do not match this product
If you need finer cut points (200 mesh, 250 mesh, -325 mesh), see the other SKUs or send an inquiry.