Method and apparatus for producing flake particles

A method of producing flake particles from molten material which is at a temperature within 25% of its equilibrium melting point in degrees K., said molten material having a viscosity of 0.001 to 1 poise and a surface tension of 10 to 2500 dynes per centimeter at said temperature, comprising:

• (a) projecting a stream of the molten material through a surrounding atmosphere;
• (b) rotating a heat extracting drum having a serrated edge in the path of the projected molten stream with the moving surfaces of the serrations in contact with and interrupting the flow of the projected stream, producing a discrete flake particle on each serration while removing heat from the particle and at least partially solidifying the particle on the serration;
• (c) releasing the particles from the serrations;
• and
• (d) cooling the particles in a surrounding atmosphere.

An apparatus for the production of flake particles from a projected stream of molten material comprising:

• (a) means for containing, heating, and projecting the stream of molten material at super atmospheric pressure;
• (b) a heat extracting drum having a serrated periphery on which each serration comprises a substantially radial surface and an adjacent angularly disposed surface connecting the base of the radial surface with the peripheral extremity of the radial surface of the adjacent serration;
• (c) means for rotating the drum about its central axis;
• (d) means for controlling the rate of projection of said molten material;
• and
• (e) means for controlling the rate of rotation of the drum relative to the rate of projection of molten material during projection.