초록 ▼

Repetitively pulsed plasma jets generated by a capillary arc discharge at high stagnation pressure (>15,000 psi) and high temperature (>10,000 K) are utilized to produce 0.1-10 .mu.m sized metal powders and decrease cost of production. The plasma jets impact and atomize melt materials to form the fi

Repetitively pulsed plasma jets generated by a capillary arc discharge at high stagnation pressure (>15,000 psi) and high temperature (>10,000 K) are utilized to produce 0.1-10 .mu.m sized metal powders and decrease cost of production. The plasma jets impact and atomize melt materials to form the fine powders. The melt can originate from a conventional melt stream or from a pulsed arc between two electrodes. Gas streams used in conventional gas atomization are replaced with much higher momentum flux plasma jets. Delivering strong incident shocks aids in primary disintegration of the molten material. A series of short duration, high pressure plasma pulses fragment the molten material. The pulses introduce sharp velocity gradients in the molten material which disintegrates into fine particles. The plasma pulses have peak pressures of approximately one kilobar. The high pressures improve the efficiency of disintegration. High gas flow velocities and pressures are achieved without reduction in gas density. Repetitively pulsed plasma jets will produce powders with lower mean size and narrower size distribution than conventional atomization techniques.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] Apparatus for manufacturing fine powders, comprising a source of melted material, melted material provided from the source, a pulsed plasma jet generator for generating a pulsed plasma jet and directing the pulsed plasma jet to impact the melted material for atomizing the material

[ We claim:] [1.] Apparatus for manufacturing fine powders, comprising a source of melted material, melted material provided from the source, a pulsed plasma jet generator for generating a pulsed plasma jet and directing the pulsed plasma jet to impact the melted material for atomizing the material into particles, and a chamber for collecting powder formed from the particles.