Metal powder atomization manufacturing processes
AssigneeAP&C Advanced Powders & Coatings, Inc.
InventorsFrédéric Larouche, Frédéric Marion, Matthieu Balmayer
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Abstract
There are provided reactive metal powder atomization manufacturing processes. For example, such processes include providing a heated metal source and contact the heated metal source with at least one additive gas while carrying out the atomization process. Such processes provide raw reactive metal powder having improved flowability. The at least one additive gas can be mixed together with an atomization gas to obtain an atomization mixture, and the heated metal source can be contacted with the atomization mixture while carrying out the atomization process. Reactive metal powder spheroidization manufacturing processes are also provided.
Claims17
A reactive metal powder atomization manufacturing process comprising:
- forming an atomization mixture comprising an atomizing gas and an additive gas, the additive gas being present in a concentration of 80 parts per million (ppm) or less, the additive gas being an oxygen-containing gas;
- and
- atomizing a heated reactive titanium alloy source to produce a raw reactive powder of titanium alloy particles, wherein atomizing the heated reactive titanium alloy source comprises contacting said heated reactive titanium alloy source with the atomization mixture, the raw reactive powder comprising a powder having a particle size distribution of 10 to 53 micrometers with a flowability less than 40 s, measured according to ASTM B213.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.