Cost-effective production of large quantities of ultrafine spherical powder using thruster-assisted plasma atomization

摘要

The metal particle plasma atomization process and apparatus comprises at least one plasma torch, a confinement chamber, a nozzle located downstream of the confinement chamber, and a diffuser located downstream of the nozzle. The nozzle accelerates the liquid metal particles and plasma gas produced by at least one plasma torch at supersonic speeds, whereby the liquid metal particles are sheared into finer particles. The diffuser generates a shock wave in the plasma gas to raise the temperature of the plasma in order to avoid the formation of stiractite at the outlet of the nozzle. This process increases both the production rate and the production of -45 μm powder.