EOS releases INVAR and three other new metal powders for LPBF

It’s that time of year! As we approach Formnext 2025, players from across the AM spectrum are preparing to announce and launch myriad new products and solutions. In the lead-up to the event, AM solutions leader EOS has already started its product roll-out with the launch of four new metal powders optimized for its LPBF systems. The new materials, EOS FeNi36, EOS NickelAlloy C22, EOS Steel 42CrMo4 and EOS StainlessSteel 316L-4404, will expand the range of applications possible using EOS’ hardware in industries like aerospace, energy, automotive, maritime and more.

The first of the four new metals is EOS FeNi36, an iron-nickel alloy designed to meet application requirements in the aerospace, space, defense and energy sectors. The powder has a few notable features, including excellent dimensional stability under thermal cycling and a very low coefficient of thermal expansion (<2 ppm/K between 30–150°C). In fact, EOS highlights that EOS FeNi36 has a up to ten times lower thermal expansion than stainless 316L and maraging steel MS1. This, along with other robust material properties, make the iron-nickel alloy suitable for optical housings, mirror mounts, cryogenic instrument components, optical benches, precision metrology inserts, composite tooling inserts and more. At Formnext 2025, visitors will be able to see the material as printed on its compatible platform, the EOS M 290, in a lobed jet engine nozzle and optical housing.

EOS NickelAlloy C22 is another new release that expands EOS’ portfolio of nickel alloys. The material, which also integrates chromium and molybdenum, is characterized by high strength, toughness and excellent corrosion resistance. These properties make it ideal for applications in chemical processing and food processing environments, since it can reliably handle contact with aggressive biological and chemical materials. Like EOS FeNi36, EOS NickelAlloy C22 will initially be compatible with the EOS M 290 platform.

The third new material announced is EOS Steel 42CrMo4, a low-alloyed steel known for its widespread use in traditional automotive manufacturing. The powder offers a beneficial combination of properties, including excellent toughness and strength (with a tensile strength of 1320 MPa), which make it suitable for applications like gears, shafts and engineering components. The material, compatible with the EOS M 290, will make it possible for automotive engineers to explore new, more lightweight designs while exploiting faster lead times and supply chain agility. Watch out for our next eBook on Metal AM, which will feature a dedicated piece on this new AM powder.

Last but not least, EOS is introducing StainlessSteel 316L-4404, described as an affordable industrial-grade powder. The powder, a stainless steel variant standard in European industry, is highly versatile, offering a combination of high ductility, toughness, strength and corrosion resistance. Notably, the new metal is considered more industrial grade than standard EOS 316L, but can still be used with the material’s parameter sets. In terms of applications, StainlessSteel 316L-4404 can be used in chemical processing, food production, water handling and marine applications, among others. This AM powder, EOS’ sixth stainless steel grade, is compatible with several systems, including EOS M 290, EOS M 400, EOS M 400-4 and EOS M 300-4.