Scrap to Metal Powder: Circular Metal AM for Increased Resource Efficiency and Resilience

Research Project, 2024 – 2025

During powder bed additive manufacturing (AM) processing, 60 to 80% of the powder feedstock should be reused after each manufacturing cycle. Due to powder degradation, powder feedstock is not reused more than ten times, often much less, resulting in expensive process waste, especially in the case of highly alloyed materials. SCARLETT is aiming to increase resource efficiency through the optimization of AM waste streams which will lead to a transition from a linear to a circular economy for AM.

Expected effects and result
SCARLETT will provide the breeding ground allowing to secure resilient national Additive Manufacturing chain, covering material feedstock, AM technology providers, component manufacturers and end-users. SCARLETT is aiming to increase resource efficiency of AM by transforming metal waste into high-value metal powder for AM, hence further increasing sustainability of metal AM, increase resilience and reduce the need for extraction of natural resources.