TIJO mainly uses GA process to produce spherical metal powder,and provides customized spherical metal powder of PREP, PS processes and so on.
①VIGA(VIGA(Vacuum Induction-melting Gas Atomization))
1. Liquid conduit 2. Airflow boundary 3. With strip 4. The particles 5. Powder collection area
The VIGA principle is shown in the figure. The process involves heating the raw material in an intermediate frequency induction furnace in a vacuum-operated ambient sink and melting it in an inert atmosphere (such as nitrogen or argon). It keeps the oxygen content of metal alloys to a minimum. Inert gas flows through a supersonic nozzle, impinges, atomizes, and breaks the molten metal into small droplets that solidify into spherical metal powder.
VIGA process can control alloy powder composition and low oxygen content well.
VIGA is mainly suitable for the preparation of powder of iron based alloy, nickel based alloy, cobalt based alloy, aluminum based alloy, copper based alloy and so on. The fine powder (0-45μm) prepared by this method has a high yield.
②(Plasma Rotating Electrode-comminuting Process)
1. The nozzle moves the electron arc 2. Fix the tungsten electrode 3. The arc 4. Metal powder 5. Rotating consumable electrode
PREP is a metal or alloy processed into a bar, which is heated by plasma. The bar rotates at high speed, the molten droplets are refined by centrifugal force, and solidified in an inert gas (usually argon) and spheroidized to form a metal powder under surface tension.
PREP process can well control alloy powder composition and low oxygen and nitrogen content.
PREP is mainly suitable for the preparation of alloy powder such as titanium alloy and superalloy. The metal powder prepared by this method has high sphericity and good fluidity.
③(PS)
1.Irregular powder 2.Inert gas 3.Spherical powder
PS process principle is shown in the figure. Under the action of high-frequency power supply, inert gas (such as argon) is ionized to form stable high-temperature inert gas plasma. The raw material powder with irregular shape is sprayed into the plasma torch by the carrier gas (nitrogen) through the powder feeder. The powder particles absorb a lot of heat in the high temperature plasma, and the surface quickly melts. It enters the reactor at a high speed and is cooled rapidly in an inert atmosphere. Under the action of surface tension, it is cooled and solidified into spherical metal powder
The sphericity of metal powder can be well controlled by PS process.
PS is mainly suitable for the preparation of refractory metal powders with high melting point, such as tantalum, tungsten, niobium, molybdenum, chromium and so on. The metal powder prepared by this method has high sphericity and good fluidity.