As part of your activities, you would like to characterize metallic powders in accordance with SM 10015 criteria
What is the SM 10015?
ArianeGroup’s SM10015, entitled ‘General conditions for ordering, supplying and receiving metal powders for the manufacture of articles’ defines the general conditions relating to the purchase, production and receipt of metallic powders used in the manufacture of articles designed by ArianeGroup.
It is applicable when the document is referenced in the technical documentation of an ArianeGroup item.
What are the SM10015 requirements?
Points 6 and 7 of the document stress the importance of traceability, cleanliness and process control in guaranteeing the quality and conformity of the metallic powders delivered. The requirements cover all stages, from raw materials to delivery.
General requirements
Approval: all products must come from suppliers approved by ArianeGroup, in accordance with the procedures in force.
Traceability and subdivision:
Subdivision: powders must be delivered in homogeneous batches not exceeding 5000 kg.
Traceability: each stage, from raw materials to batches of powders, must be documented to guarantee complete traceability.
Marking: each container must bear clear information, such as the product name, batch number, supplier, safety precautions, mass and date of manufacture.
Delivery formalities: each batch must be accompanied by a certificate of conformity and a record of the checks carried out.
Acceptance of the product range :
before any use, the products must be accepted by ArianeGroup according to a defined process. Any change in the development process requires a new validation.
Packaging: powders must be packed in strong containers to ensure that they are free from pollution or moisture. The weight of the containers must not exceed 6 kg.
Storage: storage conditions must avoid any alteration of the powders (pollution, humidity, etc.). The addition of moisture traps or regular checks on flow are recommended.
Development requirements
Product cleanliness :
- Operations must be carried out under strict conditions to avoid contamination or pollution.
- Specific procedures must be approved by ArianeGroup.
Mother lode :
- Produced by fusion, it can include recycled materials, according to validated procedures.
- All required checks must be carried out before use.
Homogenisation: each batch of powder must be homogenised before sampling for testing or transport.
Materials making up the mother liquor :
- Raw materials must be clean and free from contamination.
- The use of recycled materials is authorised subject to conditions (cleaning, traceability, absence of contamination).
Spray casting: the choice of spray casting method is left to the producer, but he must guarantee compliance with the technical specifications.
Metallic powder testing in accordance with SM 10015 criteria
Section 8 of the document describes the inspection requirements and procedures to be carried out on metallic powders before they are delivered, to ensure that they comply with the technical specifications.
Direct debit :
- Samples must be taken in accordance with ISO 3954 or ASTM B215 standards.
- Particular care must be taken to avoid contamination.
Appearance :
- Visual and optical microscopy: identification of abnormal colouration or contamination.
- Scanning microscopy (SEM): to check purity and detect any contamination (ceramics, oxides, other powder grades). Strict criteria must be met (no contamination allowed).
Density (apparent and tapped density) :
- Measured according to the ISO 3923-1 or ISO 3953 standards, or ASTM equivalents.
- Values must correspond to specifications.
Inclusionary cleanliness :
- Elutriation procedure to detect non-metallic inclusions.
- The results include the number, size and properties of the inclusions, in accordance with the specifications.
Chemical composition :
- The composition must comply with the specified values.
- The supplier can choose the dosage method from recognised standards (ASTM, ISO) or those accepted by ArianeGroup.
Granulometry :
- Dry sieving method according to the standard ISO 4497 or by laser (ISO 13320).
- Non-conformities must be corrected by rescreening, followed by a new test.
Flowability :
- Tested using a calibrated funnel (ISO 4490 or ASTM B213 standards).
- Carried out on previously dried powder in accordance with an approved protocol.
The FILAB laboratory can help you analyse metallic powders in accordance with SM10015 specifications
Why choose the FILAB laboratory for the characterization of metallic powders according to SM10015?
FILAB is one of the few laboratories in France to offer you a complete range of analytical equipment for these services, which require knowledge of both chemical analysis (organic and inorganic) and the characterization of materials, particularly powders.
In accordance with the SM10015 technical specifications, the FILAB laboratory carries out the chemical analysis and physical tests on powders listed below.
OUR POWDER ANALYSIS
Analysis of the chemical composition of metal powders by ICP-AES, ICP-MS and/or elemental C/S, O/N, H...
Density analysis according to standards ASTM B527, ISO 3953
Granulometric analysis by laser granulometry according to the standard ISO 13320
Flowability testing according to the standards ASTM B213, ISO 4490, ASTM B964
Morphological analysis by SEM- FEG EDX or Optical Microscope
FILAB’s laboratory can also help you comply with ASTM F3001: Additive Manufacturing Titanium-6 Aluminum-4 Vanadium ELI (Extra Low Interstitial) with Powder Bed Fusion.
FAQ
ArianeGroup's SM10015 and Safran's Ma-0015 share similar objectives, but apply in different contexts, with each company having its own specificities. Here is the main link between these two documents:
- Common goal:
The two documents establish the general conditions for ordering, supplying and receiving metal powders intended for the manufacture of technical components. They aim to guarantee the quality, traceability, and compliance of materials with regulatory and technical requirements. - Equivalence : The SM10015 is considered equivalent to the Ma-0015, as mentioned in chapter 10.1.1 of the SM10015. This means that it can be used as a reference for the same technical and normative objectives, while taking into account the specificities of ArianeGroup's own industrial environments and processes.
- Contexts of application :
- SM10015: Document specific to ArianeGroup, used for its space and industrial projects.
- Ma-0015: Safran document, which is intended for a wider scope, including other industrial applications.
- Benchmark :
When the SM10015 was created, the current Ma-0015 index was Index B. This suggests that SM10015 was developed by building on or harmonising the requirements of Ma-0015.
