Method and apparatus for producing powders

Apparatus for producing powders, the apparatus comprising melting means for melting a material to be atomized, an atomizing enclosure in which a dispersion head is disposed rotating at high speed to scatter molten material in atomized form, means for cooling the atomized material and the head, and means for collecting cooled powder material obtained in this way, wherein said melting means comprises at least one vertical inductive plasma furnace producing an envelope of plasma-generating gases containing the top face of the dispersion head, and wherein said cooling means comprises both a first series of members for dispensing a cooling fluid and disposed in a top portion of the atomizing enclosure to create a cold zone at the periphery of the envelope, wherein said first series of members for dispensing a cooling fluid comprises by a ring of nozzles capable of producing jets of fluid tangentially to the surface of said envelope, and further comprises nozzles capable of producing tangential washing of the enclosure, and a second series of members for circulating a cooling fluid, said second series being disposed in a bottom portion of the enclosure to create a cold zone at the bottom face of the head.