Patent · US Expired

Method for producing environmentally stable reactive alloy powders

US6444009B1 · kind B1 · utility

103Cited by
9References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 12, 2001
Grant dateSep 3, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 12, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB22F2999/00
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A two-stage method for producing ultra-fine and environmentally stable solid powders from a metal composition including a reactive alloying element. The method includes the steps of: (a) operating a first-stage heating and atomizing means to provide a stream of super-heated fine-sized metal liquid droplets into a chamber of a second-stage atomizing means with the second-stage atomizing means containing a supply of an atomizing fluid medium composed of at least a reactive gas and an inert gas at a predetermined proportion; (b) operating the second-stage atomizing means by directing the atomizing fluid medium into the chamber to impinge upon the stream of super-heated metal liquid droplets to further break up the metal liquid droplets into ultra-fine particles and to allow the reactive gas to react with the reactive alloying element for forming a protective layer on the exterior surface of the particles; and (c) cooling the particles to form ultra-fine solid powders.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.