The proposed guide will identify and classify contaminants in additive manufacturing.

Aug 14, 2025

ASTM International’s additive manufacturing technologies committee (F42) is developing a proposed standard (WK80171) that will offer guidance on selecting suitable techniques for detecting, quantifying, and classifying contamination that may be present within powder feedstock used in additive manufacturing (AM). The proposed standard will be useful to powder manufacturers and users of metal powder for AM.

WK80171 is being developed by the test methods subcommittee (F42.01), part of the F42 committee.

According to ASTM member Aneta Chrostek-Mroz, WK80171 will define contamination types that may be present within metal powders used in laser beam powder bed fusion (LB-PBF). The proposed standard will also detail methods for contamination detection and describe how the chosen testing approach can be implemented to successfully detect contamination in metal powder feedstock used in AM. 

“The standard will enable powder manufacturers and additive manufacturing machine users to 1) identify appropriate techniques for detecting and quantifying different types of contamination; (2) classify these contaminants; and (3) perform contamination assessment of both unused and re-used powders,” says Chrostek-Mroz, advanced research engineer, Manufacturing Technology Center.

A range of test methods have been evaluated (optical microscopy, automated scanning electron microscopy, x-ray computed tomography, x-ray fluorescent spectroscopy) to assess their performance and suitability for detecting different types and levels of contamination present within various metal powder feedstock used in AM.

ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at JOIN ASTM.

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