Optimization of Metal Powder Production by Gas Atomization Processes with Internal-Mixing Mechanism

摘要

This paper investigates the production of the extra-fine metal powder by gas atomization processes with internal mixing mechanism. Optimization of the production process is performed by the L{sub}18(2{sup}1 × 3{sup}7) scheme of Taguchi method. The goal is to produce the metal powder with particle size less than 15μm. Optimization analysis shows that the atomization gas, the melt inlet diameter, the nozzle outlet diameter, the melt injection pressure and the materials are the control parameters among the eight design factors. Results of the eighteen experiments show that the mean quality is 32.86 with standard deviation 2.67 and S/N ratio 29.7. Confirmation experiment with optimization design indicates that the accumulative volume of the powder within 0～15μm is 56.9%. That is, more than half of the powder is within extra-fine range.