Binder Jetting Takes on Nickel Superalloy MAR-M 247LC

Binder jetting is pushing into one of the toughest corners of metal additive manufacturing: high-temperature superalloys. The next test case is MAR-M 247LC, a nickel-based alloy used in aerospace propulsion and energy systems where parts must withstand extreme heat and stress.

AmPd Labs and Continuum Powders will present recent mechanical testing results at a free webinar on Thursday, August 6. The session, produced in partnership with 3DPrint.com, will compare binder-jetted MAR-M 247LC against conventionally cast material and discuss what it would take to qualify the process for production.

MAR-M 247LC has long been a benchmark material for investment casting. The alloy holds its strength at temperatures where most metals soften, which makes it essential for turbine blades, combustion chambers, and other hot-section components. But investment casting comes with long lead times, expensive tooling, and limited design flexibility. Binder jetting could offer an alternative that shortens those timelines and simplifies complex geometries.

Tim Neal, CEO of AmPd Labs, said the recent tests show meaningful progress toward closing the property gap with cast material. Sean Harkins, Co-Founder and COO of AmPd Labs, and Dr. Sunil Badwe, Vice President of R&D at Continuum, will also speak. Their discussion will cover powder metallurgy, furnace processing, and the specific material science required to make binder jetting reliable for MAR-M 247LC.

Continuum's role is worth watching. The company has been developing recycled nickel powders that cut the carbon footprint of metal AM by a large margin, according to earlier third-party testing. If those powders work with MAR-M 247LC, the process could become both faster and greener than traditional casting.

The webinar is not just academic. Qualification work is already underway for production applications in aerospace, defense, and energy. Those industries need parts that meet strict standards, and binder jetting has historically struggled to prove it can deliver repeatable mechanical properties at scale.

If AmPd Labs and Continuum can show consistent test data, the implications go beyond one alloy. A validated binder jetting workflow for MAR-M 247LC would open the door to other high-performance superalloys that have so far resisted additive manufacturing. That could reshape supply chains for engine makers and energy companies who are tired of waiting months for castings.