nano2b at CopperAM for Industry – New impulses for coated copper powders in additive manufacturing

When it comes to demanding materials in additive manufacturing, one metal in particular is in the spotlight: Copper. Its excellent conductivity makes it extremely valuable – but at the same time, its reflective properties make it a real challenge in the laser melting process.

That is precisely why the participation of our managing director Jürgen Bauer in the CopperAM for Industry event was so exciting and important. The event brought together experts from research, industry, and technology development to discuss advances and new applications for copper in the AM sector.

Many inspiring conversations – and a clear trend

Jürgen was an active participant at the event and spoke with numerous companies. One thing quickly became clear:
The demand for innovative solutions for processing copper powders is growing rapidly.

Copper is a key material for:

• Heat conductors in electronics and high-performance applications
• Inductors and RF components
• Cooling structures and heat exchangers
• Energy and mobility solutions

However, many processes still encounter limitations, particularly in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) – keyword: low absorption of laser light and high reflection in the infrared range.

Coated powders as a potential breakthrough for copper AM

This is where nano2b comes in with its core technology: functional powder coatings that precisely adapt metallic powder layers to the requirements of AM processes.

What does this mean specifically for copper?

• Improved coupling of laser light
  Deliberate functional coatings can increase absorption—which is particularly important because pure copper is highly reflective in the infrared range. This leads to more stable melt pools and higher process speeds.
• Fewer process interruptions and lower porosity
  Optimized energy input enables reproducible component quality—which is crucial for highly conductive applications.
• Functionalization for new applications
  Coated copper powders can be adapted for specific electrical or thermal requirements – a promising opportunity for electronics and energy technology.

Discussions at CopperAM for Industry confirmed that:
the industry is actively seeking precisely such material solutions to enable further applications of copper in the AM sector.

Thanks to Fraunhofer IWS

Special thanks go to Fraunhofer IWS, which did an excellent job of organizing and moderating the event.

The mix of technical presentations, discussions, and direct exchanges enabled us to gain new perspectives and deepen potential partnerships.

We are already looking forward to future events and further opportunities to contribute our expertise in the field of coated powders.

Interested in coated copper powders? We would be happy to talk about it.

If you use copper in additive manufacturing—or would like to—and are looking for ways to make your processes more stable, efficient, and economical, then let’s talk.

We develop customized coatings for your powder and support you from the initial idea to the final application.

•    Contact: office@nano2b.at
•    More at www.nano2b.at