In additive manufacturing, the flowability of feedstock particles determines the quality of the parts that are affected by different parameters, including the chemistry and morphology of the powders and particle size distribution. In this study, the microstructures and flowabilities of gas-atomized heat-resistant alloys for additive manufacturing applications are investigated. A KHR45A alloy powder with a composition of Fe-30Cr-40Mn-1.8Nb (wt.%) is fabricated using gas atomization process. The microstructure and effect of powder chemistry and morphology on the flow behavior are investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and revolution powder analysis. The results reveal the formation of spherical particles composed of single-phase FCC dendritic structures after gas atomization. SEM observations show variations in the microstructures of the powder particles with different size distributions. Elemental distribution maps, line scans, and high-resolution XPS results indicate the presence of a Si-rich oxide accompanied by Fe, Cr, and Nb metal oxides in the outer layer of the powders. The flowability behavior is found to be induced by the particle size distribution, which can be attributed to the interparticle interactions and friction of particles with different sizes.

In this study, an HP-mod. type(KHR-45A), which is used as a heater tube material in the pyrolysis process, was evaluated for its carburizing properties. It was confirmed from the microstructural observation of the tubes that the volume fraction of carbide increased and that the coarsening of Cr-carbide generated as a degree of carburization increased. The depth of the hardened layer, which is similar to the thickness of the carburized region of each specimen, due to carburization is confirmed by measurement of the micro-Vickers hardness of the cross section tube, which thickness is similar to that of the carburized region of each specimen. Two types of chromium carbides were identified from the EBSD (electron back-scattered diffraction) image and the EDS (energy-dispersive spectroscopy) analysis: Cr-rich M23C6 in the outer region and Cr-rich M7C3 in the inner region of tubes. The EDS analysis revealed a correlation between the ferromagnetic behavior of the tubes and the chromium depletion in the matrix. The chromium depletion in the austenite matrix is the main cause of the magnetization of the carburized tube. The method used currently for the measurement of the carburization of the tubes is confirmed; carburizing evaluation is useful for magnetic flux density measurement. The volume fraction of the carbide increased as the measuring point moved into the carburized side; this was determined from the calculation of the volume fraction in the cross-section image of the tubes. These results are similar to the trends of carburization measurement when those trends were evaluated by measurement of the magnetic flux density.