Masan High-Tech Materials introduces tungsten powders for 3D printing

H.C. Starck Tungsten Powders (H.C. Starck), a member of Masan High-Tech Materials Corporation, now offers special tungsten powders and complementary innovation services for 3D printing (also known as “additive manufacturing”) under the ‘starck2print’ trademark.

High flow ability and optimized particle size distribution make the powders particularly suitable for additive manufacturing processes such as powder bed-based laser beam melting and selective electron beam.

Complementing existing products, H.C. Starck also develops special blends to meet individual customers’ specific needs within the framework of application technology cooperation.

Sustainability

H.C. Starck’s “starck2print” powders are produced by reducing tungsten oxide in a hydrogen atmosphere. This particularly efficient process makes for consistent production quality at customers’ facilities thanks to the products’ consistently high purity.

The over-100-year-old company’s extensive recycling expertise also enables the creation of a closed loop within which the tungsten components are recovered from used 3D prints and reused as raw materials.

Hady Seyeda, CEO of H.C. Starck, says: “We believe that the technology metal tungsten has considerable potential in 3D printing. Establishing our own brand underlines our expertise and ambitions in this innovative growth sector.”

Masan’s manufacturing plants in Germany. Photo by Masan

Innovation in fast-growing battery industry

At the end of February 2023 H.C. Starck resumed marketing special tungsten powders for use in lithium-ion batteries under the starck2charge brand. “Tungsten-based products can make a significant contribution to the further development of battery technology,” CEO Seyeda says.

“In this highly innovative field, we are not only developing new products, but also interacting with new target groups. The starck2charge brand makes it easier for us to differentiate ourselves and underlines our long-term commitment to this sector.”

The company has recently made progress in the growth sector of lithium-ion batteries.

In July 2022, for instance, it acquired a 15 percent stake in British startup Nyobolt, which plans to launch a tungsten-based anode technology for ultra-fast-charging batteries in the near future.

Nyobolt, which emerged from research at Cambridge University, made it to the Financial Times newspaper’s “2022 Tech Champions” shortlist recently.

At the same time H.C. Starck tungsten has been researching into innovative coatings for cathodes together with the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, since April last year.

Certain powder mixtures are already available whose use in corresponding applications has been proven to increase the stability and safety of lithium-ion batteries.

CEO of Masan High-Tech Materials, Craig Bradshaw, says: “Our goal is to produce advanced materials with unique applications through innovation and introduce them to the market in the near future. starck2print and starck2charge are the continuation of our product portfolio expansion to meet the needs of global industries and advanced technology companies.”

Masan High-Tech Materials’ high-tech tungsten powder products. Photo by Masan

H.C. Starck tungsten Powders, a wholly owned subsidiary of Masan High Tech Materials, is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality tungsten powders tailored to individual customer needs.

The company combines a century of experience in tungsten processing with high innovation and great technological expertise.

Decades of experience in recycling and access to the world’s largest tungsten reserves outside of China, owned by the company’s parent group Masan High-Tech Materials, ensure steady supply with conflict-free raw materials.

H.C. Starck tungsten Powders employs around 540 people at its three production sites in Germany, Canada and China and sales offices in the U.S. and Japan. The company is headquartered at its largest production site in Goslar, Germany.