Technology Tech Breakthrough Positive

SCI Adds Plasma Spheroidization Line, Platinum-Group Precious Metal Powders Enter Additive Manufacturing

2026-08-14 · Impact score: 27

SCI Engineered Materials, based in Ohio, USA, has announced the installation of a plasma spheroidization system (PSS) to convert irregular metal powders into highly spherical feedstock for additive manufacturing (AM). The line is capable of processing specialty materials such as platinum-group precious metals, with plans to target the aerospace, defense, and biomedical markets by Q3 2026, expanding the application boundaries of refractory and precious metal powders in AM. Plasma spheroidization is a core process for producing highly spherical, free-flowing specialty powders, previously focused mainly on refractory metals such as tungsten, molybdenum, and tantalum. The use of precious metal powders in AM remains a relatively untapped opportunity. Value for powder buyers: (1) Capacity for spheroidizing precious metal powders is scarce; as AM applications emerge in biomedical electrodes and catalytic structures, a premium market may develop. (2) Domestic manufacturers of plasma spheroidization equipment and processes can benchmark against this technical roadmap. (3) It is recommended to track its Q3 commercial customer list to gauge real demand momentum.

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SCI新增等离子球化产线，铂族贵金属粉末进军增材制造

美国俄亥俄州SCI Engineered Materials宣布安装等离子球化系统（PSS），将不规则金属粉末转化为高球形度增材制造原料。该产线可处理铂族贵金属等特种材料，计划2026年三季度面向航空、国防与生物医药市场推广，扩展难熔/贵金属粉末在增材制造中的应用边界。等离子球化是生产高球形度、高流动性特种粉末的核心工艺，此前主要集中在钨、钼、钽等难熔金属领域，贵金属粉末的AM应用仍属蓝海。对粉末采购商的价值：① 贵金属粉末球化产能稀缺，生物医药电极与催化结构AM应用打开后或形成溢价市场 ② 国内等离子球化设备与工艺企业可对标其技术路线 ③ 建议跟踪其Q3商业化客户名单，判断真实需求节奏。

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