There are only a handful of suppliers of precious metal powders worldwide, yet these materials have become indispensable in modern medical technology, energy systems, electronics, and the luxury goods industry. Wherever conventional materials reach their limits, precious metal powders help push those boundaries further.

Components manufactured from precious metal powders retain the unique properties of precious metals, including outstanding corrosion resistance, excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, and exceptional purity. These powders are used in a variety of advanced manufacturing processes, including:

• Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)
• Metal Injection Molding (MIM)
• Powder metallurgy processes such as Cold Isostatic Pressing (CIP) and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP)

With its state-of-the-art atomization technology, C.HAFNER plays a leading role in the development and production of customized precious metal powders. This article explains the key quality requirements, available alloy portfolio, and the process-related advantages that C.HAFNER offers.

Precious Metal Powders: Manufacturing and Classification

Precious metal powders must exhibit precisely defined properties to ensure consistent performance in demanding technical applications. Consequently, the quality of the final component is largely determined by the characteristics of the powder used.

C.HAFNER’s powder technology combines advanced production equipment with highly precise classification systems. The company manufactures precious metal powders based on silver, gold, palladium, and platinum in specifically defined particle size ranges.

At the heart of the process is an inert gas atomization system combined with an air classifier, which separates particles according to size using centrifugal forces. The optimized interaction between atomization and classification—whether by air classification or sieving—ensures a high yield during powder production while minimizing precious metal costs.

To guarantee consistently high product quality, the powder production process is integrated into an infrastructure specifically designed for precious metals. This provides customers with the full range of C.HAFNER’s expertise and services in precious metal technology—a key prerequisite for meeting the highest quality standards and a unique advantage of C.HAFNER.

The image shows precious metal powder particles under a high-resolution microscope.

The most important characteristics of C.HAFNER precious metal powders include:

• Very high purity (999‰)
• Excellent sphericity and flowability
• Typical precious metal material properties, including:
  • Outstanding corrosion resistance
  • Excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, particularly in silver and gold alloys
  • High thermal stability above 2,000 °C for platinum-rhodium and platinum-iridium alloys

Why Is Particle Size So Important for Manufacturing Processes?

Particle size distribution describes the proportion of different particle sizes within a powder. It is typically expressed as a weight or mass distribution, although it can also be determined by counting individual particles regardless of their weight, resulting in a number-based distribution.

The particle size distribution is specifically tailored to each application. By classifying particles within a range of approximately 1 to 100 µm, powders can be optimally adapted to different manufacturing technologies.

The image illustrates typical particle size distributions for different powder classifications.

For example, Metal Injection Molding (MIM) requires precious metal powder with a maximum particle size of approximately 25 µm, whereas powders used for Additive Manufacturing must typically fall within a particle size range of +10/-45 µm. In both cases, the desired powder fraction is separated from the overall powder during the classification process.

You can learn more about particle size distribution and powder flowability in our blog article: Precious Metal Powders: Particle Size Distribution as a Key Quality Factor.

The coordinated interaction of atomization and classification provides several advantages:

• Consistently high powder quality
• High yield during the atomization process
• Cost savings through internal recycling

Product Portfolio: C.HAFNER Precious Metal Powders at a Glance

Silver Powders (Examples)

• Sterling silver alloys such as 925 Ag-Cu

Gold Powders (Examples)

• 8 to 22 carat gold alloys, including:
  • White gold
  • Yellow gold (3N)
  • Rose gold (4N)
  • Red gold (5N)

Platinum Group Metal Powders

• Palladium alloys such as 600‰ Pd-Cu
• 950 platinum alloys for luxury goods (PlatinGold®)
• Platinum-iridium alloys for medical technology and technical applications
• High-temperature platinum-rhodium alloys for energy applications

Customized Powders

• Special particle size classifications from 1 to 100 µm
• Brazing powders supplied by our subsidiary C.HAFNER & Hilderbrand SA
• Silver-, gold-, palladium-, and platinum-based alloys with melting temperatures of up to approximately 2,200 °C

Certified & Efficient: The Benefits of the C.HAFNER Material Cycle

In addition to powder production, C.HAFNER offers comprehensive materials analysis, expert technical consulting, and in-house precious metal recycling. With decades of experience in precious metal technology, customers benefit from:

• Accredited laboratories providing advanced material analysis
• Certifications according to LBMA, LPPM, and RJC standards
• Support throughout the entire precious metal value chain—from material supply and precious metal trading to the recycling of precious metal-containing production scrap

Further information about precious metal powders, manufacturing technologies, and applications can be found here:

https://www.c-hafner.de/technologien-werkstoffe/werkstoffe/edelmetall-pulver.html

Summary

• Only a limited number of companies worldwide manufacture precious metal powders, as both production and particle classification require highly specialized expertise.
• Particle classification optimizes both flowability and particle size distribution for the respective manufacturing process.
• The use of precious metal powders enables advanced manufacturing processes, reduces material losses, and allows material properties to be tailored to specific applications.
• Particularly in combination with Additive Manufacturing, precious metal powders open up new possibilities for the design and efficient production of complex components.
• C.HAFNER offers a comprehensive portfolio of precious metal powder alloys for a wide range of applications.
• Customers benefit from C.HAFNER’s integrated material cycle and extensive expertise in precious metal technology.