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US 4,544,404 AGranted
Method for atomizing titanium
AssigneeCrucible Materials Corporation
InventorsCharles F. Yolton, John H. Moll
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AssigneeCrucible Materials Corporation
InventorsCharles F. Yolton, John H. Moll
Estimating the term…
A method for producing titanium particles suitable for powder metallurgy applications by atomizing a free-falling stream of molten titanium. Prior to atomization the molten titanium is maintained in a crucible lined with a solidified layer of titanium which separates the molten mass of titanium from the crucible interior to protect it against contamination. The bottom of the crucible has a nozzle through which the titanium passes to form the free-falling stream. The nozzle may be likewise lined with a layer of solidified titanium which maintains the molten titanium passing through the nozzle out of contact with the nozzle material further protecting the titanium from contamination. The free-falling stream is contacted by an inert gas jet to atomize the stream into spherical particles, which are solidified and collected.
A method for producing titanium particles suitable for powder metallurgy applications, said method comprising producing a molten mass of titanium in a crucible having therein a nonoxidizing atmosphere, maintaining said molten mass of titanium out-of-contact with said crucible, producing a free-falling stream of said molten titanium from said crucible, striking said free-falling stream with an inert gas jet to atomize said molten titanium to form spherical particles, cooling said spherical particles to solidify said particles and collecting said solidified particles.
A method for producing titanium particles suitable for powder metallurgy applications, said method comprising arc melting to produce a molten mass of titanium in a crucible having a nonoxidizing atmosphere therein, maintaining said molten mass of titanium out-of-contact with said crucible by providing a solidified layer of titanium between said molten mass and said crucible with said titanium of said solidified layer being of the same composition as said molten mass of titanium, said crucible having in a bottom portion thereof a nozzle from which a free-falling stream of said molten titanium passes from said crucible, an inert gas jet adapted to atomize said molten titanium to form spherical particles by striking said free-falling stream at a distance apart from said nozzle sufficient that said jet and atomized particles do not contact said nozzle to cause erosion of said nozzle and cooling of said molten titanium passing through said nozzle, cooling said spherical particles to solidify said particles and collecting said solidified particles.
A method for producing titanium particles suitable for powder metallurgy applications, said method comprising arc melting to produce a molten mass of titanium in a crucible having a nonoxidizing atmosphere therein, maintaining said molten mass of titanium out-of-contact with said crucible by providing a solidified layer of titanium between said molten mass and said crucible with said titanium of said solidified layer being of the same composition as said molten mass of titanium, said crucible having in a bottom portion thereof a nozzle from which a free-falling stream of said molten titanium passes from said crucible, said nozzle being lined with a solidified layer of titanium of the same composition as said molten mass of titanium, whereby said molten titanium is maintained out-of-contact with said nozzle, an inert gas jet adapted to atomize said molten titanium to form spherical particles by striking said free-falling stream at a distance apart from said nozzle sufficient that said jet and atomized particles do not contact said nozzle to cause erosion of said nozzle and cooling of said molten titanium passing through said nozzle, cooling said spherical particles to solidify said particles and collecting said solidified particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.