Abstract: Disclosed are mixtures for use in additive manufacturing, wherein the powder mixture comprises first and second materials. The first material includes a metal alloy or a mixture of elemental precursors thereof, and is in powder form. The second material includes a reinforcement material comprising powder particles having a particle diameter of from 1 to less than 30 ?m (as determined by laser scattering or laser diffraction). The inventive powder mixtures allows for the processing to three dimensions objects which are free of cracking and which thus have favourable mechanical characteristics. Further disclosed are processes for the preparation of corresponding powder mixtures and three dimensional objects, three dimensional objects prepared accordingly and devices for implementing processes for the preparation of such objects, as well as the use of a corresponding powder mixture to suppress crack formation in a three-dimensional object, which is prepared by additive manufacturing.

Abstract: Powder mixture for use in the manufacture of a three-dimensional object by means of an additive manufacturing method, wherein the powder mixture comprises a first material and a second material, wherein the first material comprises a steel in powder form, wherein the second material comprises a reinforcement material different from the first material, wherein the powder mixture is adapted to form a composite object when solidified by means of an electromagnetic and/or particle radiation in the additive manufacturing method, and wherein the reinforcement material comprises nanoparticles.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for producing a three-dimensional object by layerwise construction. The device contains a flow device for generating a gas flow above an applied layer of the building material by means of a nozzle element for introducing the gas into the device. The nozzle element includes a body with a gas inlet side and a gas outlet side, and channels which penetrate the body from the gas inlet side to the gas outlet side, provided with inlet openings on the gas inlet side and gas outlet openings on the gas outlet side, and which are separated by walls. The length of the channels is selected such that a laminar flow is formed at the gas outlet side.

Abstract: Powder mixture for use in the manufacture of a three-dimensional object using an additive manufacturing method, wherein the powder mixture includes a first material and a second material, wherein the first material comprises a steel in powder form, wherein the second material comprises a reinforcement material different from the first material, and wherein the powder mixture is adapted to form a composite object when solidified an electromagnetic and/or particle radiation in the additive manufacturing method.

Abstract: A device (1), for producing a three-dimensional object (2) by solidifying, layer-by-layer, building material (13) at locations in the respective layer corresponding to the cross-section of the object (2) to be produced, contains a flow device (31, 32, 34, 35) for generating a gas flow above an applied layer of the building material (13) by means of a nozzle element (40) for introducing the gas into the device. The nozzle element (40) comprises a body (41) with a gas inlet side and a gas outlet side (46), and a plurality of channels (42) which penetrate the body from the gas inlet side (44) to the gas outlet side (46), are provided with inlet openings on the gas inlet side (44) and with gas outlet openings (47) on the gas outlet side (46), and which are separated by walls (43). The length of the channels (42) is selected such that therein a laminar flow is formed at the gas outlet side (46).