Manufacture of metal powder
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorsJean Foulard, Gerard Bentz, Jean Galey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for producing metal powder in which a cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase is poured over a metal bath having a vapor pressure of at least 1 mm Hg, and the solid particles suspended in the fluid are separated therefrom and collected. The particles find application in the manufacture of paints, in the treatment of rubber, and in the metallurgical, chemical pharmaceutical and ceramic industries.
Claims14
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination:
- heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg;
- pouring sufficient cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase to maintain a thick layer of fluid over the thus heated metallic material and thereby condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles;
- evacuating the cryogenic fluid from the enclosure with the solid particles in suspension;
- separating the solid particles from the cryogenic fluid;
- and
- collecting the solid particles in powder form.
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination:
- heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg;
- pouring sufficient cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase to maintain a thick layer of fluid over the thus heated metallic material and thereby condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles;
- evacuating the cryogenic fluid from the enclosure in the liquid phase with the solid particles in suspension therein;
- separating the solid particles from the cryogenic fluid;
- and
- collecting the solid particles in powder form.
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination:
- heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg;
- pouring sufficient cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase to maintain a thick layer of fluid over the thus heated metallic material and thereby condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles;
- evacuating the cryogenic fluid from the enclosure in the gaseous phase with the solid particles in suspension therein;
- separating the solid particles from the cryogenic fluid;
- and
- collecting the solid particles in powder form.
A method for producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination:
- heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg;
- pouring sufficient cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase to maintain a thick layer of fluid over the thus heated metallic material and thereby condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles;
- evacuating the cryogenic fluid from the enclosure with the solid particles in suspension;
- filtering the evacuated cryogenic fluid to separate the solid particles therefrom;
- and
- collecting the solid particles in powder form.
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination:
- heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg;
- pouring liquid nitrogen over the thus heated metallic material to condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles;
- evacuating the nitrogen fluid from the enclosure with the solid particles in suspension;
- directing the nitrogen fluid and the suspended solid particles into a separating enclosure spaced from the treating enclosure;
- separating the solid particles from the nitrogen fluid in said separating enclosure;
- and
- collecting the solid particles in powder form.
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination:
- heating a copper-zinc alloy in a closed treating enclosure to a temperature of about 1065.degree. C. until the vapor pressure of the alloy is at least about 1 mm HG;
- pouring liquid nitrogen over the thus heated alloy to condense vapor from the alloy and form a multiplicity of solid particles;
- evacuating the nitrogen from the enclosure with the solid particles in suspension;
- separating the solid particles from the nitrogen;
- and
- collecting the solid particles in powder form.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.