PowderRange 15-5PH – Stainless Steel 15-5PH Powdered Metal
Premium Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel Powder for Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing
Overview of PowderRange 15-5PH Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel
PowderRange 15-5PH is a martensitic precipitation/age-hardening stainless steel powder engineered for advanced additive manufacturing applications. This exceptional material offers higher strength and hardness compared to similar precipitation-hardening stainless steels, combined with excellent corrosion resistance up to 600°F (316°C). The balanced combination of strength, toughness, hardness, and ductility makes it ideal for aerospace, petrochemical, food processing, and medical applications.
PowderRange 15-5PH can be age-hardened using a single-step, low-temperature treatment that provides flexibility in achieving specific strength and toughness combinations tailored to your application requirements. This outstanding versatility in post-processing combined with excellent additive manufacturing performance has established it as a leading choice for rapid tooling, functional components, and prototyping across virtually every industrial sector.
Key Characteristics
- High strength and hardness
- Excellent corrosion resistance
- Good toughness & ductility
- Single-step age hardening
- Outstanding fabricability
Industries Served
- Aerospace & Defense
- Petrochemical Processing
- Food Processing
- Medical Device Manufacturing
- Rapid Tooling & Prototyping
Processing Methods
- Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF)
- Stress Relief Options
- Solution Annealing
- Age Hardening (H900)
- HIP Processing Available
Chemical Composition & ASTM Specifications
PowderRange 15-5PH meets AMS5659 specifications and is equivalent to UNS S15500, ASTM A564/A564M, and AMS7021. The carefully balanced chemical composition ensures consistent performance and reliable age-hardening response.
| Element | Specification (%) | Element | Specification (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron (Fe) | Balance | Chromium (Cr) | 14.00–15.50 |
| Nickel (Ni) | 3.50–5.50 | Copper (Cu) | 2.50–4.50 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 1.00 | Silicon (Si) | 1.00 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 0.50 | Niobium (Nb) | 5x C to 0.45 |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.10 | Carbon (C) | 0.070 |
| Oxygen (O) | 0.030 | Phosphorus (P) | 0.030 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.015 |
Powder Properties & Technical Specifications
Powder Grade & Specifications
PowderRange 15-5PH is produced to exacting specifications optimized for laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. The nitrogen gas atomization process ensures consistent particle morphology essential for reliable 3D printing and excellent mechanical properties in the final printed component.
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Part Number | PowderRange 155 F |
| Application | Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) |
| Maximum Particle Size | Max 1 wt% > 53 µm |
| Minimum Particle Size | Max 10 vol% < 15 µm |
| Particle Size Distribution | D10, D50, D90 percentiles reported |
| Atomization | Nitrogen Gas Atomized |
| Apparent Density | Measured per ASTM B2124 and reported |
| Hall Flow Rate | Measured per ASTM B2135 and reported |
Mechanical Properties & Heat Treatment Options
PowderRange 15-5PH offers exceptional mechanical properties that can be tailored through various heat treatment conditions. The material can achieve high strength and hardness levels while maintaining good ductility and impact resistance, providing flexibility for demanding applications.
| Condition | Orientation | Yield Strength (MPa) | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Elongation (%) | Hardness (HRC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As-Built | X & Y | 1027 | 1282 | 21.7 | 37.5 |
| Sol/H900 | X & Y | 1296 | 1448 | 13.9 | 46 |
| HIP/Sol/H900 | X & Y | 1248 | 1413 | 13.5 | 42 |
Heat Treatment Procedures
- Stress Relief: 1250°F (677°C) for 1 hour per inch of thickness (minimum 2 hours, maximum 4 hours)
- Homogenization: 2000°F (1093°C) for 1 hour followed by air cool to minimize anisotropy
- Solution Anneal: 1900°F (1038°C) per ASTM A564/A564M for 0.5 hours, rapid cool to <90°F
- Age Hardening (H900): 900°F (482°C) for 1 hour and air cool per ASTM A564/A564M
- Hot Isostatic Pressing: 14.5 ksi (100 MPa) at 2087°F (1141°C) for 240 minutes in argon
Corrosion Resistance Performance
PowderRange 15-5PH exhibits good corrosion resistance up to 600°F (316°C), making it suitable for demanding chemical and petrochemical applications. The material resists a wide range of corrosive environments while maintaining excellent mechanical properties.
Excellent
Good
Good
Moderate
Moderate
Restricted
Markets & Applications for PowderRange 15-5PH
Primary Markets
- Aerospace & Defense
- Petrochemical Processing
- Food Processing Industry
- Medical Device Manufacturing
- Rapid Tooling & Prototyping
Typical End-Use Applications
- Surgical Instruments & Tools
- Valves & Fittings
- Pumps & Impellers
- Manifolds
- Industrial & Chemical Equipment
- Production Tooling
Additive Manufacturing Process Guidance
Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) Parameters
PowderRange 15-5PH is compatible with all commercially available L-PBF equipment. To achieve mean as-built density >99.9%, the following parameters are recommended:
- Layer Thickness: 20 to 60 µm
- Specific Energy: ≥ 50 J/mm³
- Post-Processing: Machining, grinding, polishing readily performed
Quality Certifications
PowderRange 15-5PH powder testing fulfills Nadcap Materials Testing and ISO/IEC 17025 Chemical certification requirements per relevant ASTM procedures.
Ready to Specify PowderRange 15-5PH?
Contact Michlin Metals to discuss your aerospace, medical, or industrial application requirements. Our experts will help you leverage the exceptional properties of PowderRange 15-5PH for your precision manufacturing needs.
Please contact us to request a quote. We specialize in hard to find material.
We work closely with many manufacturers in the aerospace & defense industry. We work with NADCAP approved heat treaters and testing laboratories. We can supply DFARS compliant material.