Process and apparatus for producing powder particles by atomization of a feed material in the form of an elongated member

An apparatus for producing powder particles by atomization of a feed material in the form of an elongated member, comprising an inductively coupled plasma torch with a longitudinal axis and including:

• a coaxial injection probe at a first end of the inductively coupled plasma torch and comprising an elongated conduit which extends through at least an upstream portion of a coaxial plasma confinement tube of the plasma torch for introducing the elongated member of feed material axially into the plasma torch;
• and
• an atomization nozzle at a second end of the plasma torch opposite the first end, wherein the atomization nozzle comprises an aperture coaxial with the longitudinal axis for receiving the elongated member of feed material from the coaxial injection probe, and wherein the atomization nozzle is configured for producing, using plasma from the inductively coupled plasma torch, at least one feed material atomizing plasma jet for surface melting and atomizing feed material of a forward end of the elongated member by exposure to the at least one feed material atomizing plasma jet.