Continuum Powders is pioneering sustainable metal powder production at industrial scale with our proprietary Melt-to-Powder (M2P) technology—transforming scrap into high-performance nickel powders that support circularity, reduce emissions, and meet demanding material standards.
Key findings from the Oregon State University LCA
An independent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) from Oregon State University’s Industrial Sustainability Laboratory evaluated the cradle-to-gate environmental impact of nickel powder production (per 100 kg output). The study compared three scenarios: conventional gas atomization using 100% virgin nickel, a hybrid approach using recycled nickel with plasma arc atomization, and Continuum’s M2P process using 100% recycled nickel with carbon offsets for electricity and argon consumption.
Highlights:
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Up to 98.7% reduction in GHG emissions versus traditional virgin nickel powder production
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Circular economy in action: 100% scrap feedstock—no virgin metal required
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Lower-carbon production: enabled by green electricity and efficient process design
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Supply chain benefits: supports decarbonization goals for advanced manufacturing programs
Why it matters
Nickel is a critical material for advanced manufacturing, but traditional production routes are energy- and emissions-intensive. This assessment validates a practical, scalable pathway to produce high-performance nickel powders with dramatically lower carbon impact—without compromising on application readiness.
