Custom blends & PM / MIM

Custom Blends & PM / MIM Feedstock

Custom water-atomized stainless steel powder for PM, MIM, and binder-jet applications. Custom mesh splits, lower oxygen targets, alternative chemistries (17-4 PH, 430), and full feedstock partnerships. 25 kg minimum trial order.

What this is

This is the entry point for everything that does not fit a standard SKU. PM customers, MIM technologists, binder-jet operators, and filter OEMs with non-standard layered constructions all start here.

What we can do

Custom mesh splits

The standard 150 / 200 / 250 mesh cut points cover most filter-cartridge needs. For PM and MIM we can deliver:

  • -325 mesh fines (≈ 45 µm and below) for binder-jet and finer MIM applications
  • 250 / -325 mesh blend for membrane-substrate applications wanting tighter PSD
  • 200 / 325 mesh band for specific customer specifications
  • Tighter splits on request — give us your D10/D50/D90 target

Sieving is mechanical; sub-batch CoAs report the as-shipped PSD.

Alternative chemistries

AlloyStatusNotes
316LStandardStocked in 150 / 200 / 250 mesh
304LStandardStocked in 150 / 200 / 250 mesh
17-4 PHTrial-grade25 kg minimum, 4–6 weeks lead
430Trial-grade25 kg minimum, 4–6 weeks lead
Other ferrous alloysDiscussSend your spec — atmosphere-sensitive alloys are out of scope

Lower oxygen targets

Standard filter-grade product runs at ≤ 3000 ppm oxygen. We can deliver:

  • ≤ 2000 ppm via secondary reduction treatment (custom run)
  • ≤ 1500 ppm in special cases, for an additional QC charge

Below 1500 ppm is generally a job for gas-atomized powder; we will refer you on request.

Dual-element blends

For multi-layer filter cartridges that benefit from deliberately blended PSDs (for example a 70/30 weight ratio of 200 mesh to 250 mesh to tune sintered pore structure), we pre-blend in a controlled mixer and deliver in moisture-protected packaging suitable for direct loading into your press.

Trial process

  1. Send a spec — application, target PSD, oxygen target, alloy, expected annual tonnage.
  2. We confirm or adjust within one business day; if it is outside our process window, we say so directly.
  3. Trial run (25 kg minimum). Sub-batch CoA shipped on completion.
  4. Qualification samples (1 kg) free of charge for the customer's own qualification testing once a trial spec is agreed.
  5. If qualification passes, we set up a recurring production schedule and lock in lead times.

What we will not do

  • Spherical gas-atomized AM-grade powder (refer to atomization partners)
  • Reactive alloys (Ti, Al, Mg) — out of scope for our facility
  • Sub-1000 ppm oxygen targets in stainless (gas atomization is the right path)
  • Pure nickel-based superalloys (refer to specialist suppliers)

For applications outside this list we will tell you upfront, often with a referral. We would rather lose a quote than ship powder that fails qualification.