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 trademark starck2print.

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

Complementing its existing products, H.C. Starck also offers to develop special blends for individual customers' specific needs.

H.C. Starck's starck2print powders are produced by reducing tungsten oxide in a hydrogen atmosphere. This particularly efficient process contributes to stable 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 old 3D prints and reused as raw materials.

CEO of H.C. Starck Hady Seyeda said, "We believe that tungsten has considerable potential in 3D printing. Establishing our own brand underlines our expertise and ambitions in this innovative growth sector."

At the end of February, H.C. Starck continued to market special tungsten powders for use in lithium-ion batteries under the starck2charge product brand.

"Tungsten-based products can make a significant contribution to the further development of battery technology. 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," added Seyeda.

The company has recently made considerable progress in the growth sector of lithium-ion batteries. In July 2022, for example, it acquired a 15 per cent stake in British startup Nyobolt, which aims to launch a tungsten-based anode technology for ultra-fast-charging batteries soon. Nyobolt, which has been involved in research activities at Cambridge University, made it onto the Financial Times' Tech Champions 2022 shortlist.

In parallel, H.C. Starck Tungsten has been researching innovative coatings for cathodes together with the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research in Baden-Württemberg in Germany since April last year. Certain powder mixtures are already available that have been proven to increase the stability and safety of lithium-ion batteries.

CEO of Masan High-Tech Materials, Craig Bradshaw shared, "Our goal is to produce advanced materials with unique applications through innovation. Starck2print and starck2charge are the continuation of our product portfolio expansion to meet the needs of global industries and advanced tech companies."