Method for making rapidly solidified powder

A method for producing powder of metal or alloy material comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming a molten stream of said material;
• (b) electromagnetically confining said molten stream and controlling the diameter of said molten stream;
• and
• (c) disintegrating said molten stream into droplets of molten said material for subsequent cooling to said powder.

A system for producing powder of metal or alloy material comprising:

• (a) a source of molten said material;
• (b) electromagnetic levitating means for supporting said molten said material, said levitating means including an outlet for discharging from said levitating means a molten stream of said material;
• (c) electromagnetic confining means disposed at said outlet of said levitating means and surrounding said molten stream for controlling the diameter of said molten stream, said confining means including an inlet and an outlet for conducting said molten stream therethrough;
• and
• (d) atomization means disposed near said molten stream and adjacent said outlet of said confining means for disintegrating said molten stream into droplets of molten said material for subsequent cooling to said powder.

A system for producing powder of metal or alloy material comprising:

• (a) an electromagnetic levitating first coil for melting said material and supporting molten said material, said first coil including an outlet for discharging from said first coil a molten stream of said material;
• (b) an electromagnetic confining second coil disposed at said outlet of said first coil and surrounding said molten stream for controlling the diameter of said molten stream, said second coil including an inlet and an outlet for conducting said molten stream therethrough;
• and
• (c) atomization means disposed near said molten stream and adjacent said outlet of said second coil for disintegrating said molten stream into droplets of molten said material for subsequent cooling to said powder.

A system for producing powder of metal or alloy material comprising:

• (a) means for forming a molten stream of said material;
• (b) an electromagnetic confining first coil disposed for surrounding said molten stream and controlling the diameter of said molten stream, said first coil including an inlet and an outlet for conducting said molten stream therethrough;
• and
• (c) atomization means disposed near said molten stream and adjacent said outlet of said first coil for disintegrating said molten stream into droplets of molten said material for subsequent cooling to said powder.