EP2711111A1 - Metallic powder production method and metallic powder production device - Google Patents
Metallic powder production method and metallic powder production device Download PDFInfo
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- EP2711111A1 EP2711111A1 EP20120786542 EP12786542A EP2711111A1 EP 2711111 A1 EP2711111 A1 EP 2711111A1 EP 20120786542 EP20120786542 EP 20120786542 EP 12786542 A EP12786542 A EP 12786542A EP 2711111 A1 EP2711111 A1 EP 2711111A1
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- jet
- metal
- molten metal
- metal powder
- powder production
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F9/00—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof
- B22F9/02—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes
- B22F9/06—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material
- B22F9/08—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material by casting, e.g. through sieves or in water, by atomising or spraying
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F9/00—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof
- B22F9/02—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F9/00—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof
- B22F9/02—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes
- B22F9/04—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from solid material, e.g. by crushing, grinding or milling
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F1/00—Metallic powder; Treatment of metallic powder, e.g. to facilitate working or to improve properties
- B22F1/05—Metallic powder characterised by the size or surface area of the particles
- B22F1/052—Metallic powder characterised by the size or surface area of the particles characterised by a mixture of particles of different sizes or by the particle size distribution
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F1/00—Metallic powder; Treatment of metallic powder, e.g. to facilitate working or to improve properties
- B22F1/06—Metallic powder characterised by the shape of the particles
- B22F1/065—Spherical particles
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F1/00—Metallic powder; Treatment of metallic powder, e.g. to facilitate working or to improve properties
- B22F1/08—Metallic powder characterised by particles having an amorphous microstructure
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F9/00—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof
- B22F9/02—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes
- B22F9/06—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material
- B22F9/08—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material by casting, e.g. through sieves or in water, by atomising or spraying
- B22F9/082—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material by casting, e.g. through sieves or in water, by atomising or spraying atomising using a fluid
- B22F2009/0848—Melting process before atomisation
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F9/00—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof
- B22F9/02—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes
- B22F9/06—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material
- B22F9/08—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material by casting, e.g. through sieves or in water, by atomising or spraying
- B22F9/082—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material by casting, e.g. through sieves or in water, by atomising or spraying atomising using a fluid
- B22F2009/088—Fluid nozzles, e.g. angle, distance
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F9/00—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof
- B22F9/02—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes
- B22F9/06—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material
- B22F9/08—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material by casting, e.g. through sieves or in water, by atomising or spraying
- B22F9/082—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material by casting, e.g. through sieves or in water, by atomising or spraying atomising using a fluid
- B22F2009/0888—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material by casting, e.g. through sieves or in water, by atomising or spraying atomising using a fluid casting construction of the melt process, apparatus, intermediate reservoir, e.g. tundish, devices for temperature control
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F2202/00—Treatment under specific physical conditions
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C33/00—Making ferrous alloys
- C22C33/02—Making ferrous alloys by powder metallurgy
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a metal powder production method and a metal powder production device.
- Typical atomization methods include a water atomization method and a gas atomization method that produce powder by emitting a jet of water or gas to molten metal (metal melt), pulverizing the molten metal, and allowing it to be solidified as droplets (refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Numbers. 2006-63357 , 2005-139471 , and 2004-183049 ).
- the typical atomization methods also include a disk atomization method that produces the powder by allowing the molten metal to be dropped on a rotating disk, and pulverizing it by applying a shear force in a tangential direction, and a plasma atomization method that allows a fine wire of Ti or the like to become particles by heat of plasma and kinetic energy.
- the water atomization method has the problem of increased equipment costs, because a high-pressure pump for emitting a jet of water at high speed is expensive.
- the water atomization method has such a problem that the shape of the produced powder is irregular.
- the gas atomization method has such a problem that material costs, equipment costs and other costs are high because high-pressure gas production equipment is required in order to use high-pressure gas, and the gas to be used is expensive.
- the disk atomization method has such a problem that equipment costs are high, because it is necessary to increase a rotation rate of the disk in order to produce the fine metal powder, and such a problem that technology for increasing the rotation rate of the disk has already reached the limit.
- the plasma atomization method has such a problem that a plasma torch is expensive.
- the plasma atomization method also has the problem of an increase in size of the device, because the plasma torch is used.
- the present invention is made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a metal powder production method and a metal powder production device capable of reducing the size of the device, reducing the costs, and obtaining spherical metal powder.
- a metal powder production method obtains metal powder by emitting a flame jet to molten metal or a metal wire.
- a metal powder production device includes supply means for supplying molten metal or a metal wire, and a jet burner for emitting a flame jet to the molten metal or the metal wire supplied from the supply means.
- the metal powder production device of the present invention can preferably implement the metal powder production method according to the present invention.
- the metal powder production method and the metal powder production device according to the present invention can obtain the metal powder by using the principle of an atomization method. By emitting the high-temperature flame jet to the molten metal, the molten metal can be pulverized. Further, by emitting the high-temperature flame jet to the metal wire, the metal wire is melted and its molten metal can be pulverized.
- the temperature of the flame jet at this time is higher than those of high-pressure water of a water atomization method and high-pressure gas of a gas atomization method, flow velocity of blowing fluid can be increased to be higher than those of the water atomization method and the gas atomization method. Due to its high temperature, it is not necessary to cool the molten metal for atomization, nor to increase the temperature of the molten metal more than necessary. Therefore, the molten metal can be finely pulverized. Thus-pulverized molten metal is allowed to fall or scatter in an atmosphere and statically supercooled, so as to enable vitrification and to obtain fine metal powder with ease. In addition, it is possible to obtain the metal powder that is finer than those obtained by the water atomization method and the gas atomization method.
- the metal powder production method and the metal powder production device of the present invention it is possible to obtain the spherical metal powder.
- the jet burners used in the metal powder production method and the metal powder production device according to the present invention are relatively inexpensive and small-sized as compared with a high-pressure pump used in the water atomization method, high-pressure gas production equipment used in the gas atomization method, a plasma torch used in a plasma atomization method and the like, and therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the device and to reduce the costs including equipment costs, material costs and the like.
- the metal powder production method and the metal powder production device of the present invention are configured to be able to emit the flame jet to the molten metal or the metal wire at a speed faster than the speed of sound.
- the molten metal can be finely pulverized by a shock wave emitted by the flame jet, and the fine metal powder can be obtained.
- the atomization method to the molten metal or the metal wire may be a free fall type or may be a confined type.
- the flame jet is emitted to obliquely intersect a flow direction of the molten metal or an extending direction of the metal wire. In this case, the fine metal powder can be produced efficiently.
- the flame jet is emitted from a periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire so that the flame jet collides against the molten metal or the metal wire with an almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space along an outer periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire.
- the jet burner emits the flame jet from a periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire so that the flame jet collides against the molten metal or the metal wire with an almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space along an outer periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire.
- a circular jet orifice for emitting the flame jet may be provided, and the flame jet may be emitted by arranging the molten metal or the metal wire on an inner side of the flame jet emitted from the jet orifice.
- the jet burner may include a circular jet orifice for emitting the flame jet, and the molten metal or the metal wire may be arranged on an inner side of the flame jet emitted from the jet orifice.
- the flame jet can be made to collide against the molten metal or the metal wire with an almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space along an outer periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire, with relative ease.
- One jet burner and one combustion chamber will suffice, and therefore, the size of the device can be reduced further, and the production costs can be reduced.
- a plurality of flame jets may be emitted to the molten metal or the metal wire from positions rotationally symmetrical with each other with respect to the molten metal or the metal wire.
- the jet burner may include a plurality of jet burners and may be provided to emit the flame jets to the molten metal or the metal wire from positions rotationally symmetrical with each other with respect to the molten metal or the metal wire. In this case, it is possible to pulverize the molten metal finely and to obtain the fine metal powder, by collisions between the plurality of flame jets.
- each of the jet burners may have an elongated jet orifice for emitting the flame jet, and a major axis direction of the jet orifice may be arranged to correspond to an outer periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire.
- the flame jet emitted from the jet orifice of each jet burner can be spread in a plane shape or devided into a plurality of jets, along the major axis direction of the jet orifice.
- the flame jets are emitted from the plurality of jet burners so as to surround the molten metal or the metal wire, the uniform atomization to the molten metal or the metal wire is possible. It is preferable that there are three or more jet burners so as to surround the molten metal or the metal wire.
- the jet burner may have a heat-resistant nozzle at its tip end, the heat-resistant nozzle having a through hole therein through which the molten metal or the metal wire passes, and the jet burner may be provided to be able to emit the flame jet to the molten metal or the metal wire passing through the through hole.
- the metal powder can be obtained by one jet burner.
- the heat-resistant nozzle may divide the flame jet in its inside into a plurality of jets, and may emit the divided jets to the molten metal or the metal wire, passing through the through hole, from positions rotationally symmetrical with each other. Any material, such as carbon or water-cooled copper, may be used to form the heat-resistant nozzle as long as the material is heat-resistant.
- the metal powder production method and the metal powder production device capable of reducing the size of the device, reducing the costs, and obtaining the spherical metal powder.
- Figs. 1(a) and 1(b) are side views illustrating a usage state of a metal powder production device according to a first embodiment of the present invention where (a) shows a free fall type, and (b) shows a confined type;
- Figs. 1 and Fig. 3 illustrate a metal powder production device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
- a metal powder production device 10 has supply means 11 and a plurality of jet burners 12.
- supply means 11 As illustrated in Figs. 1 , a metal powder production device 10 has supply means 11 and a plurality of jet burners 12.
- an explanation will be mainly given to a free fall type that is illustrated in Fig. 1(a) .
- the supply means 11 is formed by a container containing molten metal.
- the supply means 11 has, at the center of its bottom surface, a molten metal injection nozzle 11a that communicates with its inside.
- the supply means 11 is configured to be able to discharge the molten metal contained therein downward from the molten metal injection nozzle 11a.
- Each of the plurality of jet burners 12 is able to emit a flame jet 12a at a speed faster than the speed of sound.
- Each of the jet burners 12 is arranged under the supply means 11 to be able to emit the flame jet 12a obliquely downward.
- Each of the jet burners 12 is provided to emit the jet to a downward flow 1 of the molten metal from the molten metal injection nozzle 11a in such a manner that the jet obliquely intersects the downward flow 1 at the same angle, from each of positions rotationally symmetrical with each other with respect to the downward flow 1. Thereby, the respective jet burners 12 are made to emit the flame jets 12a to one point of the downward flow 1 in a concentrated manner.
- the jet burner 12 is formed by a jet burner manufactured by Hard Industry Yugen Kaisha, which is small-sized, and is able to emit the flame jet 12a at the speed faster than the speed of sound.
- the metal powder production device 10 can preferably implement a metal powder production method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
- the metal powder production device 10 can obtain metal powder by using the principle of an atomization method.
- the molten metal can be pulverized.
- the temperature of the flame jet 12a at this time is higher than those of high-pressure water of a water atomization method and high-pressure gas of a gas atomization method, flow velocity of blowing fluid can be increased to be higher than those of the water atomization method and the gas atomization method.
- the temperature of the molten metal may be set to be lower than those of the conventional water atomization method and the gas atomization method by about 50 to 100°C. Therefore, the molten metal can be finely pulverized under the condition in which the molten metal is amorphized more easily. Thus-pulverized molten metal is allowed to fall or scatter in an atmosphere and statically supercooled, so as to enable vitrification and to obtain fine metal powder with ease. In addition, it is possible to obtain the metal powder that is finer than those obtained by the water atomization method and the gas atomization method.
- the metal powder production device 10 can finely pulverize the molten metal by a shock wave emitted by the flame jet 12a. Further, each of the jet burners 12 emits the flame jet 12a to one point of the the downward flow 1 in a concentrated manner from the same angle and from each of the positions rotationally symmetrical with each other with respect to the downward flow 1 of the molten metal, which makes it possible to pulverize the molten metal more finely and to obtain the finer metal powder, by collisions between the plurality of flame jets 12a. It should be noted that the obtained metal powder can be collected easily when a container or a chamber is provided under the supply means 11 in such a manner to cover peripheral portions and lower portions of the respective flame jets 12a.
- jet burners 12 used in the metal powder production device 10 are relatively inexpensive and small-sized as compared with a high-pressure pump used in the water atomization method, high-pressure gas production equipment used in the gas atomization method, a plasma torch used in a plasma atomization method and the like, it is possible to reduce the size of the device and to reduce the costs including equipment costs, material costs and the like.
- the metal powder production device 10 may be a confined type as illustrated in Fig. 1(b) .
- the confined type efficient atomization is possible without attenuating kinetic energy of the flame jets 12a of the respective jet burners 12, as the confined type can supply the molten metal directly to an atomizing zone, as well as the similar effects as those of the free fall type can be obtained.
- the conventional gas atomization or the like is used in the confined type, there is such a problem that the molten metal is solidified and clogging of the molten metal injection nozzle 11a is easily caused as the molten metal injection nozzle 11a is cooled by the emitted gas and the like.
- the supply means 11 may be provided to be able to supply a metal wire 2 continuously to a downward direction, and the respective jet burners 12 may be provided to emit the flame jets 12a to the metal wire 2.
- the high-temperature flame jets 12a are emitted to the metal wire 2, so as to melt the metal wire 2 and to pulverize the melted metal.
- Material of the metal wire 2 may be, for example, stainless steel or SUS420 alloy.
- the metal powder production device 10 may include one jet burner 12 having a heat-resistant nozzle at its tip end.
- the heat-resistant nozzle may be configured to include a through hole therein, through which the molten metal or the metal wire passes, divide the flame jet 12a in its inside into a plurality of jets, and emit the divided jets to the molten metal or the metal wire, passing through the through hole, from positions rotationally symmetrical with each other and from the same angle with respect to the molten metal or the metal wire.
- the heat-resistant nozzle may be obtaibed by forming the nozzle used in the water atomization method or the gas atomization method by heat-resistant material such as carbon or water-cooled copper.
- a jet nozzle 12c of each of the jet burners 12 may be bent so that an emitting direction of the flame jet 12a has a specified angle with respect to a longitudinal direction of a body 12b of the jet burner 12.
- the jet nozzle 12c can be easily brought closer to the molten metal injection nozzle 11a of the supply means 11. This is effective especially when the metal powder production device 10 is the confined type.
- Fig. 4 illustrates the metal powder production device and the metal powder production method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
- a metal powder production device 20 is the confined type, and has the supply means 11 and the jet burner 12.
- the supply means 11 has a container 21 containing the molten metal, and a supply hole 21a that communicates with the outside at the center of the bottom of the container 21. Further, the supply means 11 has the molten metal injection nozzle 11a that communicates with the supply hole 21a and is attached to the center of the bottom surface of the container 21 via a heat insulating plate 22 (an alumina plate, for example).
- the molten metal injection nozzle 11a has a tapered shape, whose tip end has such an external form that is gradually thinnes downward.
- the supply means 11 can supply the molten metal that is contained in the container 21 through the molten metal injection nozzle 11a.
- the jet burner 12 has a combustion chamber (not illustrated) and a circular jet orifice 24 for emitting the flame jet.
- the jet burner 12 is provided under the container 21 of the supply means 11 in such a manner that the molten metal injection nozzle 11a is arranged on an inner side of the jet orifice 24.
- the jet burner 12 is formed in such a manner that the jet orifice 24 corresponds to the tapered shape of the tip end of the molten metal injection nozzle 11a.
- the jet burner 12 is configured to be able to emit the flame jet from the jet orifice 24 toward a forward inner side and along the circumference of the jet orifice 24 without leaving any space. Thereby, the jet burner 12 is able to emit the flame jet concentrically on one point of the molten metal, from the periphery of the molten metal supplied from the molten metal injection nozzle 11a, in such a manner that the flame jet obliquely intersects a flow direction of the molten metal. Further, with the jet burner 12, the flame jet is made to collide against the molten metal along the outer periphery of the molten metal supplied from the molten metal injection nozzle 11a with an almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space.
- the jet burner 12 also has a water cooling unit 25 that circulates water in the periphery of the jet orifice 24 and cools the jet orifice 24.
- the jet burner 12 can also emit the flame jet at the speed faster than the speed of sound.
- the jet burner 12 is made to emit the jet to the molten metal supplied downward from the molten metal injection nozzle 11a, from the obliquely upward direction at an angle of about 40 degrees.
- the metal powder production device 20 to preferably implement the metal powder production method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
- the flame jet that is emitted from the periphery of the molten metal is made to collide against the molten metal along the outer periphery of the molten metal with the almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space, which makes it possible to prevent the molten metal from scattering to escape from the flame jet at the colliding position. Therefore, uniform atomization to the molten metal is possible, and fine and uniform spherical metal powder can be obtained. It is also possible to improve production efficiency of the metal powder.
- the diameter of the produced metal powder is about 5 ⁇ m.
- the metal powder production device 20 and the metal powder production method according to the second embodiment of the present invention With the metal powder production device 20 and the metal powder production method according to the second embodiment of the present invention, one jet burner 12 and one combustion chamber will suffice, and therefore, the size of the device can be reduced further, and the production costs can also be reduced further. Incidentally, it is also possible for the metal powder production device 20 and the metal powder production method according to the second embodiment of the present invention to emit the high-temperature flame jet to the metal wire, not to the molten metal.
- Figs. 5 and Figs. 6 illustrate the metal powder production device and the metal powder production method according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
- a metal powder production device 30 has the supply means 11 and the jet burners 12.
- each of the jet burners 12 has an elongated jet orifice 24 for emitting the flame jet 12a.
- Each of the jet burners 12 is arranged in such a manner that a major axis direction of the jet orifice 24 corresponds to the outer periphery of the downward flow 1 of the molten metal.
- Each of the jet burners 12 is provided to be able to emit the flame jet 12a at the same pressure and the same speed to the downward flow 1, from each of the positions rotationally symmetrical with each other and from the same angle with respect to the downward flow 1.
- each jet orifice 24 has a gourd shape in which two circles are connected. Further, the respective jet burners 12 are arranged at the positions with the same distance from the downward flow 1 and at the intervals of the central angle of 120 degrees, with the downward flow 1 of the molten metal serving as the central axis, and the respective jet burners 12 emit the jets to the downward flow 1 from the obliquely upward direction at the angle of about 40 degrees.
- the metal powder production device 30 can preferably implement the metal powder production method according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
- the flame jet 12a emitted from the jet orifice 24 of each jet burner 12 can be spread in a plane shape or devided into a plurality of jets, along the major axis direction of the jet orifice 24, as illustrated in Fig. 6(b) .
- the flame jets 12a are emitted from the respective jet burners 12 so as to surround the downward flow 1 of the molten metal, and thus, the flame jets 12a are made to collide against the downward flow 1 of the molten metal along the outer periphery of the downward flow 1 of the molten metal with the almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space.
- This makes it possible to prevent the molten metal from scattering to escape from the flame jet 12a at the colliding position. Therefore, the uniform atomization to the molten metal is possible, and the fine and uniform spherical metal powder can be obtained. It is also possible to improve the production efficiency of the metal powder.
- the metal powder production device 30 and the metal powder production method according to the third embodiment of the present invention to emit the high-temperature flame jets 12a to the metal wire, not to the molten metal.
- the state of the flame jets 12a emitted from the metal powder production device 10 as illustrated in Fig. 1(a) is illustrated in Fig. 7(a) .
- a convergence of the plurality of flame jets can be confirmed as in Fig. 7(a) .
- This metal powder production device 10 was used to emit the flame jets 12a to Fe-Si-B based molten metal, and then fine spherical Fe 75 Si 10 B 15 amorphous powder was obtained.
- Fig. 7(b) to Fig. 7(d) illustrate the state of the flame jet 12a near the emitting position at this time, and electron micrographs of the obtained powder.
- the metal powder production device 10 as illustrated in Fig. 2 was used to emit the flame jets 12a to the metal wire 2 of stainless steel SUS420, and then fine spherical metal powder was obtained. Electron micrographs of the obtained metal powder are illustrated in Figs. 8 .
- the metal powder production device 10 as illustrated in Fig. 2 was used to emit the flame jets 12a to the metal wire 2 of a TIG welding rod TGS50 (manufactured by Kobe Steel, Ltd.), and then fine and spherical metal powder was obtained. Electron micrographs of the obtained metal powder are illustrated in Figs. 9 .
- the metal powder production device 10 as illustrated in Fig. 2 was used to emit the flame jets 12a to the metal wire 2 of SUS420 alloy, and then fine and spherical metal powder was obtained. Electron micrographs of the obtained metal powder are illustrated in Figs. 10 .
- the metal powder production device 10 as illustrated in Fig. 1(a) , the metal powder production device 20 as illustrated in Fig. 4 , and the metal powder production device 20 as illustrated in Fig. 4 having a Laval nozzle type jet orifice 24 were used to emit the flame jets to the molten metal of Fe-Si 10 -B 15 alloy, so as to produce the metal powder.
- Particle size distribution of the metal powder produced in the respective devices is illustrated in Figs. 11 .
- the four jet burners 12 were arranged at the intervals of the central angle of 90 degrees, with the downward flow 1 of the molten metal serving as the central axis, and the respective jet burners 12 emitted the flame jets to the downward flow 1 from the obliquely upward direction at the angle of about 15 degrees (vertex angle of 30 degrees).
- air volume is 700 L/min and fuel (kerosene) is 130 mL/min.
- the combustion parameters of the metal powder production device 20 as illustrated in Fig. 4 the air volume is 3000 L/min and the fuel (kerosene) is 550 mL/min.
- the combustion parameters of the Laval nozzle type the air volume is 3000 L/min and the fuel (kerosene) is 550 mL/min.
- the most common diameter was 40 to 70 ⁇ m, and the diameter was 100 ⁇ m or less for the most part, as illustrated in Figs. 11(a) and 11(b) .
- the diameter was 50 ⁇ m or less for the most part. From these results, it was confirmed that the fine powder can be obtained by the emission of the flame jet. As the diameter of the produced metal powder is smaller in the Laval nozzle type, it is found that the diameter of the produced metal powder is reduced as the speed of the flame jet is increased.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a metal powder production method and a metal powder production device.
- Conventionally, atomization methods have been widely used for producing metal powder (refer to, for example, MURAKAMI, Yotaro, "Method for producing high-quality metal powder", (online), September 2003, The New Materials Center, Osaka Science & Technology Center (searched on January 17, 2011), the Internet (URL: http://www.ostec.or.jp/nmc/TOP/nmc_news.htm)). Typical atomization methods include a water atomization method and a gas atomization method that produce powder by emitting a jet of water or gas to molten metal (metal melt), pulverizing the molten metal, and allowing it to be solidified as droplets (refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Numbers.
2006-63357 2005-139471 2004-183049 - However, the water atomization method has the problem of increased equipment costs, because a high-pressure pump for emitting a jet of water at high speed is expensive. In addition, the water atomization method has such a problem that the shape of the produced powder is irregular. The gas atomization method has such a problem that material costs, equipment costs and other costs are high because high-pressure gas production equipment is required in order to use high-pressure gas, and the gas to be used is expensive. The disk atomization method has such a problem that equipment costs are high, because it is necessary to increase a rotation rate of the disk in order to produce the fine metal powder, and such a problem that technology for increasing the rotation rate of the disk has already reached the limit. The plasma atomization method has such a problem that a plasma torch is expensive. In addition, the plasma atomization method also has the problem of an increase in size of the device, because the plasma torch is used.
- The present invention is made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a metal powder production method and a metal powder production device capable of reducing the size of the device, reducing the costs, and obtaining spherical metal powder.
- In order to achieve the above-described object, a metal powder production method according to the present invention obtains metal powder by emitting a flame jet to molten metal or a metal wire.
- A metal powder production device according to the present invention includes supply means for supplying molten metal or a metal wire, and a jet burner for emitting a flame jet to the molten metal or the metal wire supplied from the supply means.
- It is possible for the metal powder production device of the present invention to preferably implement the metal powder production method according to the present invention. The metal powder production method and the metal powder production device according to the present invention can obtain the metal powder by using the principle of an atomization method. By emitting the high-temperature flame jet to the molten metal, the molten metal can be pulverized. Further, by emitting the high-temperature flame jet to the metal wire, the metal wire is melted and its molten metal can be pulverized. As the temperature of the flame jet at this time is higher than those of high-pressure water of a water atomization method and high-pressure gas of a gas atomization method, flow velocity of blowing fluid can be increased to be higher than those of the water atomization method and the gas atomization method. Due to its high temperature, it is not necessary to cool the molten metal for atomization, nor to increase the temperature of the molten metal more than necessary. Therefore, the molten metal can be finely pulverized. Thus-pulverized molten metal is allowed to fall or scatter in an atmosphere and statically supercooled, so as to enable vitrification and to obtain fine metal powder with ease. In addition, it is possible to obtain the metal powder that is finer than those obtained by the water atomization method and the gas atomization method.
- According to the metal powder production method and the metal powder production device of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the spherical metal powder. The jet burners used in the metal powder production method and the metal powder production device according to the present invention are relatively inexpensive and small-sized as compared with a high-pressure pump used in the water atomization method, high-pressure gas production equipment used in the gas atomization method, a plasma torch used in a plasma atomization method and the like, and therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the device and to reduce the costs including equipment costs, material costs and the like.
- It is preferable that the metal powder production method and the metal powder production device of the present invention are configured to be able to emit the flame jet to the molten metal or the metal wire at a speed faster than the speed of sound. In this case, the the molten metal can be finely pulverized by a shock wave emitted by the flame jet, and the fine metal powder can be obtained. According to the metal powder production method and the metal powder production device of the present invention, the atomization method to the molten metal or the metal wire may be a free fall type or may be a confined type. According to the metal powder production method and the metal powder production device of the present invention, it is preferable that the flame jet is emitted to obliquely intersect a flow direction of the molten metal or an extending direction of the metal wire. In this case, the fine metal powder can be produced efficiently.
- According to the metal powder production method of the present invention, it is preferable that the flame jet is emitted from a periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire so that the flame jet collides against the molten metal or the metal wire with an almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space along an outer periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire. According to the metal powder production device of the present invention, it is preferable that the jet burner emits the flame jet from a periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire so that the flame jet collides against the molten metal or the metal wire with an almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space along an outer periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire. This makes it possible to prevent the molten metal or the metal wire from scattering to escape from the flame jet at the position where the flame jet collides against the molten metal or the metal wire. Therefore, the uniform atomization to the molten metal or the metal wire is possible, and the fine and uniform spherical metal powder can be obtained. It is also possible to improve production efficiency of the metal powder.
- According to the metal powder production method of the present invention, a circular jet orifice for emitting the flame jet may be provided, and the flame jet may be emitted by arranging the molten metal or the metal wire on an inner side of the flame jet emitted from the jet orifice. According to the metal powder production device of the present invention, the jet burner may include a circular jet orifice for emitting the flame jet, and the molten metal or the metal wire may be arranged on an inner side of the flame jet emitted from the jet orifice. In this case, the flame jet can be made to collide against the molten metal or the metal wire with an almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space along an outer periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire, with relative ease. One jet burner and one combustion chamber will suffice, and therefore, the size of the device can be reduced further, and the production costs can be reduced.
- According to the metal powder production method of the present invention, a plurality of flame jets may be emitted to the molten metal or the metal wire from positions rotationally symmetrical with each other with respect to the molten metal or the metal wire. According to the metal powder production device of the present invention, the jet burner may include a plurality of jet burners and may be provided to emit the flame jets to the molten metal or the metal wire from positions rotationally symmetrical with each other with respect to the molten metal or the metal wire. In this case, it is possible to pulverize the molten metal finely and to obtain the fine metal powder, by collisions between the plurality of flame jets.
- Further, when there are plurality of jet burners, each of the jet burners may have an elongated jet orifice for emitting the flame jet, and a major axis direction of the jet orifice may be arranged to correspond to an outer periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire. In this case, the flame jet emitted from the jet orifice of each jet burner can be spread in a plane shape or devided into a plurality of jets, along the major axis direction of the jet orifice. When the flame jets are emitted from the plurality of jet burners so as to surround the molten metal or the metal wire, the uniform atomization to the molten metal or the metal wire is possible. It is preferable that there are three or more jet burners so as to surround the molten metal or the metal wire.
- According to the metal powder production device of the present invention, the jet burner may have a heat-resistant nozzle at its tip end, the heat-resistant nozzle having a through hole therein through which the molten metal or the metal wire passes, and the jet burner may be provided to be able to emit the flame jet to the molten metal or the metal wire passing through the through hole. In this case, the metal powder can be obtained by one jet burner. The heat-resistant nozzle may divide the flame jet in its inside into a plurality of jets, and may emit the divided jets to the molten metal or the metal wire, passing through the through hole, from positions rotationally symmetrical with each other. Any material, such as carbon or water-cooled copper, may be used to form the heat-resistant nozzle as long as the material is heat-resistant.
- According to the present invention, it is possible to provide the metal powder production method and the metal powder production device capable of reducing the size of the device, reducing the costs, and obtaining the spherical metal powder.
-
Figs. 1(a) and 1(b) are side views illustrating a usage state of a metal powder production device according to a first embodiment of the present invention where (a) shows a free fall type, and (b) shows a confined type; -
Fig. 2 is a side view illustrating a modification of the metal powder production device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a metal wire is used; -
Fig. 3 is a side view illustrating a modification of the metal powder production device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which jet burners are modified; -
Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the metal powder production device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; -
Fig. 5(a) is a perspective view illustrating the metal powder production device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, andFig. 5(b) is a perspective view illustrating its usage state; -
Fig. 6(a) is a front view illustrating a jet orifice of the metal powder production device as inFigs. 5 , andFig. 6(b) is a side view illustrating the shape of an emitted flame jet; -
Fig. 7(a) is an enlarged side view illustrating a state of the flame jets emitted from the metal powder production device as inFig. 1(a) ,Fig. 7(b) is an enlarged side view near an emitting position of the flame jet, illustrating a state of atomization when molten metal is used in the metal powder production device as inFig. 1(a) ,Fig. 7(c) is an electron micrograph of Fe75Si10B15 amorphous powder obtained from Fe-Si-B based molten metal by the metal powder production device as inFig. 1(a) , andFig. 7(d) is an electron micrograph illustrating enlarged particles of the powder; -
Fig. 8(a) is an electron micrograph at 150-fold magnification andFig. 8(b) is an electron micrograph at 1000-fold magnification of metal powder obtained by the metal powder production device as inFig. 2 from a metal wire of stainless steel SUS420; -
Fig. 9(a) is an electron micrograph at 1500-fold magnification andFig. 9(b) is an electron micrograph at 2500-fold magnification of metal powder obtained by the metal powder production device as inFig. 2 from a metal wire of a TIG welding rod (TGS50 manufactured by Kobe Steel, Ltd.); -
Fig. 10(a) is an electron micrograph at 200-fold magnification andFig. 10(b) is an electron micrograph at 1200-fold magnification of metal powder obtained by the metal powder production device as inFig. 2 from a metal wire of SUS420 alloy; and -
Figs. 11(a) to 11(c) are graphs illustrating particle size distribution of metal powder produced by emitting a flame jet to molten metal of Fe-Si10-B15 alloy by (a) the metal powder production device as inFig. 1(a), (b) the metal powder production device as inFig. 4, and (c) the metal powder production device as inFig. 4 having a Laval nozzle type jet orifice. - Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
-
Figs. 1 andFig. 3 illustrate a metal powder production device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. - As illustrated in
Figs. 1 , a metalpowder production device 10 has supply means 11 and a plurality ofjet burners 12. In the following, an explanation will be mainly given to a free fall type that is illustrated inFig. 1(a) . - As illustrated in
Fig. 1(a) , the supply means 11 is formed by a container containing molten metal. The supply means 11 has, at the center of its bottom surface, a moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a that communicates with its inside. The supply means 11 is configured to be able to discharge the molten metal contained therein downward from the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a. - Each of the plurality of
jet burners 12 is able to emit aflame jet 12a at a speed faster than the speed of sound. Each of thejet burners 12 is arranged under the supply means 11 to be able to emit theflame jet 12a obliquely downward. Each of thejet burners 12 is provided to emit the jet to adownward flow 1 of the molten metal from the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a in such a manner that the jet obliquely intersects thedownward flow 1 at the same angle, from each of positions rotationally symmetrical with each other with respect to thedownward flow 1. Thereby, therespective jet burners 12 are made to emit theflame jets 12a to one point of thedownward flow 1 in a concentrated manner. - According to a specific example, the
jet burner 12 is formed by a jet burner manufactured by Hard Industry Yugen Kaisha, which is small-sized, and is able to emit theflame jet 12a at the speed faster than the speed of sound. There are threejet burners 12 that are arranged at positions with the same distance from thedownward flow 1 and at intervals of a central angle of 120 degrees, with thedownward flow 1 of the molten metal serving as a central axis, and that emit the jets to thedownward flow 1 from an obliquely upward direction at an angle of about 45 degrees. Further, each of thejet burners 12 are made to emit theflame jet 12a at the same pressure and speed. - It is possible for the metal
powder production device 10 to preferably implement a metal powder production method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The metalpowder production device 10 can obtain metal powder by using the principle of an atomization method. By emitting the high-temperature flame jet 12a to thedownward flow 1 of the molten metal, the molten metal can be pulverized. As the temperature of theflame jet 12a at this time is higher than those of high-pressure water of a water atomization method and high-pressure gas of a gas atomization method, flow velocity of blowing fluid can be increased to be higher than those of the water atomization method and the gas atomization method. Due to its high temperature, it is not necessary to cool the molten metal for atomization, nor to increase the temperature of the molten metal more than necessary. For example, the temperature of the molten metal may be set to be lower than those of the conventional water atomization method and the gas atomization method by about 50 to 100°C. Therefore, the molten metal can be finely pulverized under the condition in which the molten metal is amorphized more easily. Thus-pulverized molten metal is allowed to fall or scatter in an atmosphere and statically supercooled, so as to enable vitrification and to obtain fine metal powder with ease. In addition, it is possible to obtain the metal powder that is finer than those obtained by the water atomization method and the gas atomization method. - When each of
jet burners 12 emits theflame jet 12a at the speed faster than the speed of sound, the metalpowder production device 10 can finely pulverize the molten metal by a shock wave emitted by theflame jet 12a. Further, each of thejet burners 12 emits theflame jet 12a to one point of the thedownward flow 1 in a concentrated manner from the same angle and from each of the positions rotationally symmetrical with each other with respect to thedownward flow 1 of the molten metal, which makes it possible to pulverize the molten metal more finely and to obtain the finer metal powder, by collisions between the plurality offlame jets 12a. It should be noted that the obtained metal powder can be collected easily when a container or a chamber is provided under the supply means 11 in such a manner to cover peripheral portions and lower portions of therespective flame jets 12a. - As the
jet burners 12 used in the metalpowder production device 10 are relatively inexpensive and small-sized as compared with a high-pressure pump used in the water atomization method, high-pressure gas production equipment used in the gas atomization method, a plasma torch used in a plasma atomization method and the like, it is possible to reduce the size of the device and to reduce the costs including equipment costs, material costs and the like. - Incidentally, the metal
powder production device 10 may be a confined type as illustrated inFig. 1(b) . With regard to the confined type, efficient atomization is possible without attenuating kinetic energy of theflame jets 12a of therespective jet burners 12, as the confined type can supply the molten metal directly to an atomizing zone, as well as the similar effects as those of the free fall type can be obtained. When the conventional gas atomization or the like is used in the confined type, there is such a problem that the molten metal is solidified and clogging of the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a is easily caused as the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a is cooled by the emitted gas and the like. On the contrary, with the metalpowder production device 10 as illustrated inFig. 1(b) , it is possible to prevent the solidification of the molten metal and the occurrence of the clogging of the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a because the high-temperature flame jets 12a are emitted from therespective jet burners 12 and the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a is not cooled. - In the metal
powder production device 10, as illustrated inFig. 2 , the supply means 11 may be provided to be able to supply ametal wire 2 continuously to a downward direction, and therespective jet burners 12 may be provided to emit theflame jets 12a to themetal wire 2. In this case, the high-temperature flame jets 12a are emitted to themetal wire 2, so as to melt themetal wire 2 and to pulverize the melted metal. Material of themetal wire 2 may be, for example, stainless steel or SUS420 alloy. - Further, the metal
powder production device 10 may include onejet burner 12 having a heat-resistant nozzle at its tip end. The heat-resistant nozzle may be configured to include a through hole therein, through which the molten metal or the metal wire passes, divide theflame jet 12a in its inside into a plurality of jets, and emit the divided jets to the molten metal or the metal wire, passing through the through hole, from positions rotationally symmetrical with each other and from the same angle with respect to the molten metal or the metal wire. In this case, it is possible to obtain the metal powder by onejet burner 12. The heat-resistant nozzle may be obtaibed by forming the nozzle used in the water atomization method or the gas atomization method by heat-resistant material such as carbon or water-cooled copper. - Further, in the metal
powder production device 10, as illustrated inFig. 3 , ajet nozzle 12c of each of thejet burners 12 may be bent so that an emitting direction of theflame jet 12a has a specified angle with respect to a longitudinal direction of abody 12b of thejet burner 12. In this case, thejet nozzle 12c can be easily brought closer to the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a of the supply means 11. This is effective especially when the metalpowder production device 10 is the confined type. -
Fig. 4 illustrates the metal powder production device and the metal powder production method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. - As illustrated in
Fig. 4 , a metalpowder production device 20 is the confined type, and has the supply means 11 and thejet burner 12. - Incidentally, in the following explanation, the same numerals and symbols will be used to designate the same components as those in the metal
powder production device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and the repeated explanation will be omitted. - The supply means 11 has a
container 21 containing the molten metal, and asupply hole 21a that communicates with the outside at the center of the bottom of thecontainer 21. Further, the supply means 11 has the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a that communicates with thesupply hole 21a and is attached to the center of the bottom surface of thecontainer 21 via a heat insulating plate 22 (an alumina plate, for example). The moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a has a tapered shape, whose tip end has such an external form that is gradually thinnes downward. The supply means 11 can supply the molten metal that is contained in thecontainer 21 through the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a. - The
jet burner 12 has a combustion chamber (not illustrated) and acircular jet orifice 24 for emitting the flame jet. Thejet burner 12 is provided under thecontainer 21 of the supply means 11 in such a manner that the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a is arranged on an inner side of thejet orifice 24. Thejet burner 12 is formed in such a manner that thejet orifice 24 corresponds to the tapered shape of the tip end of the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a. - The
jet burner 12 is configured to be able to emit the flame jet from thejet orifice 24 toward a forward inner side and along the circumference of thejet orifice 24 without leaving any space. Thereby, thejet burner 12 is able to emit the flame jet concentrically on one point of the molten metal, from the periphery of the molten metal supplied from the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a, in such a manner that the flame jet obliquely intersects a flow direction of the molten metal. Further, with thejet burner 12, the flame jet is made to collide against the molten metal along the outer periphery of the molten metal supplied from the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a with an almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space. - The
jet burner 12 also has awater cooling unit 25 that circulates water in the periphery of thejet orifice 24 and cools thejet orifice 24. Incidentally, thejet burner 12 can also emit the flame jet at the speed faster than the speed of sound. In the specific example, thejet burner 12 is made to emit the jet to the molten metal supplied downward from the moltenmetal injection nozzle 11a, from the obliquely upward direction at an angle of about 40 degrees. - It is possible for the metal
powder production device 20 to preferably implement the metal powder production method according to the second embodiment of the present invention. With the metalpowder production device 20 and the metal powder production method according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the flame jet that is emitted from the periphery of the molten metal is made to collide against the molten metal along the outer periphery of the molten metal with the almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space, which makes it possible to prevent the molten metal from scattering to escape from the flame jet at the colliding position. Therefore, uniform atomization to the molten metal is possible, and fine and uniform spherical metal powder can be obtained. It is also possible to improve production efficiency of the metal powder. According to the specific example, the diameter of the produced metal powder is about 5 µm. - With the metal
powder production device 20 and the metal powder production method according to the second embodiment of the present invention, onejet burner 12 and one combustion chamber will suffice, and therefore, the size of the device can be reduced further, and the production costs can also be reduced further. Incidentally, it is also possible for the metalpowder production device 20 and the metal powder production method according to the second embodiment of the present invention to emit the high-temperature flame jet to the metal wire, not to the molten metal. -
Figs. 5 andFigs. 6 illustrate the metal powder production device and the metal powder production method according to a third embodiment of the present invention. - As illustrated in
Figs. 5 andFigs. 6 , a metalpowder production device 30 has the supply means 11 and thejet burners 12. - Incidentally, in the following explanation, the same numerals and symbols will be used to designate the same components as those in the metal
powder production device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the metalpowder production device 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and the repeated explanation will be omitted. - In the metal
powder production device 30, there are threejet burners 12, each of which has an elongatedjet orifice 24 for emitting theflame jet 12a. Each of thejet burners 12 is arranged in such a manner that a major axis direction of thejet orifice 24 corresponds to the outer periphery of thedownward flow 1 of the molten metal. Each of thejet burners 12 is provided to be able to emit theflame jet 12a at the same pressure and the same speed to thedownward flow 1, from each of the positions rotationally symmetrical with each other and from the same angle with respect to thedownward flow 1. - In the specific example illustrated in
Figs. 5 andFigs. 6 , eachjet orifice 24 has a gourd shape in which two circles are connected. Further, therespective jet burners 12 are arranged at the positions with the same distance from thedownward flow 1 and at the intervals of the central angle of 120 degrees, with thedownward flow 1 of the molten metal serving as the central axis, and therespective jet burners 12 emit the jets to thedownward flow 1 from the obliquely upward direction at the angle of about 40 degrees. - It is possible for the metal
powder production device 30 to preferably implement the metal powder production method according to the third embodiment of the present invention. With the metalpowder production device 30 and the metal powder production method according to the third embodiment of the present invention, theflame jet 12a emitted from thejet orifice 24 of eachjet burner 12 can be spread in a plane shape or devided into a plurality of jets, along the major axis direction of thejet orifice 24, as illustrated inFig. 6(b) . Therefore, theflame jets 12a are emitted from therespective jet burners 12 so as to surround thedownward flow 1 of the molten metal, and thus, theflame jets 12a are made to collide against thedownward flow 1 of the molten metal along the outer periphery of thedownward flow 1 of the molten metal with the almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space. This makes it possible to prevent the molten metal from scattering to escape from theflame jet 12a at the colliding position. Therefore, the uniform atomization to the molten metal is possible, and the fine and uniform spherical metal powder can be obtained. It is also possible to improve the production efficiency of the metal powder. - Incidentally, it is also possible for the metal
powder production device 30 and the metal powder production method according to the third embodiment of the present invention to emit the high-temperature flame jets 12a to the metal wire, not to the molten metal. - The state of the
flame jets 12a emitted from the metalpowder production device 10 as illustrated inFig. 1(a) is illustrated inFig. 7(a) . A convergence of the plurality of flame jets can be confirmed as inFig. 7(a) . This metalpowder production device 10 was used to emit theflame jets 12a to Fe-Si-B based molten metal, and then fine spherical Fe75Si10B15 amorphous powder was obtained.Fig. 7(b) to Fig. 7(d) illustrate the state of theflame jet 12a near the emitting position at this time, and electron micrographs of the obtained powder. - The metal
powder production device 10 as illustrated inFig. 2 was used to emit theflame jets 12a to themetal wire 2 of stainless steel SUS420, and then fine spherical metal powder was obtained. Electron micrographs of the obtained metal powder are illustrated inFigs. 8 . - The metal
powder production device 10 as illustrated inFig. 2 was used to emit theflame jets 12a to themetal wire 2 of a TIG welding rod TGS50 (manufactured by Kobe Steel, Ltd.), and then fine and spherical metal powder was obtained. Electron micrographs of the obtained metal powder are illustrated inFigs. 9 . - The metal
powder production device 10 as illustrated inFig. 2 was used to emit theflame jets 12a to themetal wire 2 of SUS420 alloy, and then fine and spherical metal powder was obtained. Electron micrographs of the obtained metal powder are illustrated inFigs. 10 . - The metal
powder production device 10 as illustrated inFig. 1(a) , the metalpowder production device 20 as illustrated inFig. 4 , and the metalpowder production device 20 as illustrated inFig. 4 having a Laval nozzletype jet orifice 24 were used to emit the flame jets to the molten metal of Fe-Si10-B15 alloy, so as to produce the metal powder. Particle size distribution of the metal powder produced in the respective devices is illustrated inFigs. 11 . - Incidentally, in the metal
powder production device 10 as illustrated inFig. 1(a) , the fourjet burners 12 were arranged at the intervals of the central angle of 90 degrees, with thedownward flow 1 of the molten metal serving as the central axis, and therespective jet burners 12 emitted the flame jets to thedownward flow 1 from the obliquely upward direction at the angle of about 15 degrees (vertex angle of 30 degrees). With regard to combustion parameters per onejet burner 12, air volume is 700 L/min and fuel (kerosene) is 130 mL/min. With regard to the combustion parameters of the metalpowder production device 20 as illustrated inFig. 4 , the air volume is 3000 L/min and the fuel (kerosene) is 550 mL/min. With regard to the combustion parameters of the Laval nozzle type, the air volume is 3000 L/min and the fuel (kerosene) is 550 mL/min. - With regard to the metal powder produced by the metal
powder production device 10 as illustrated inFig. 1(a) and by the metalpowder production device 20 as illustrated inFig. 4 , the most common diameter was 40 to 70 µm, and the diameter was 100 µm or less for the most part, as illustrated inFigs. 11(a) and 11(b) . With regard to the metal powder produced by the Laval nozzle type, the diameter was 50 µm or less for the most part. From these results, it was confirmed that the fine powder can be obtained by the emission of the flame jet. As the diameter of the produced metal powder is smaller in the Laval nozzle type, it is found that the diameter of the produced metal powder is reduced as the speed of the flame jet is increased. -
- 1
- downward flow
- 2
- metal wire
- 10
- metal powder production device
- 11
- supply means
- 11(a)
- molten metal injection nozzle
- 12
- jet burner
- 12a
- flame jet
Claims (10)
- A metal powder production method comprising
obtaining metal powder by emitting a flame jet to molten metal or a metal wire. - The metal powder production method according to claim 1,
wherein the flame jet is emitted from a periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire so that the flame jet collides against the molten metal or the metal wire with an almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space along an outer periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire. - The metal powder production method according to claim 1 or claim 2,
wherein a circular jet orifice for emitting the flame jet is provided, and the flame jet is emitted by arranging the molten metal or the metal wire on an inner side of the flame jet emitted from the jet orifice. - The metal powder production method according to claim 1 or claim 2,
wherein a plurality of flame jets are emitted to the molten metal or the metal wire from positions rotationally symmetrical with each other with respect to the molten metal or the metal wire. - A metal powder production device comprising:supply means for supplying molten metal or a metal wire; anda jet burner for emitting a flame jet to the molten metal or the metal wire supplied from the supply means.
- The metal powder production device according to claim 5,
wherein the jet burner emits the flame jet from a periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire so that the flame jet collides against the molten metal or the metal wire with an almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space along an outer periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire. - The metal powder production device according to claim 5 or claim 6,
wherein the jet burner comprises a circular jet orifice for emitting the flame jet, and the molten metal or the metal wire is arranged on an inner side of the flame jet emitted from the jet orifice. - The metal powder production device according to claim 5 or claim 6,
wherein the jet burner comprises a plurality of jet burners that are provided to emit the flame jets to the molten metal or the metal wire from positions rotationally symmetrical with each other with respect to the molten metal or the metal wire. - The metal powder production device according to claim 8,
wherein each of the jet burners has an elongated jet orifice for emitting the flame jet, and a major axis direction of the jet orifice is arranged to correspond to an outer periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire. - The metal powder production device according to claim 5 or claim 6,
wherein the jet burner has a heat-resistant nozzle at its tip end, the heat-resistant nozzle having a through hole therein through which the molten metal or the metal wire passes, and the jet burner is provided to be able to emit the flame jet to the molten metal or the metal wire passing through the through hole.
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- 2012-05-18 CN CN201280022257.6A patent/CN103635273A/en active Pending
- 2012-05-18 EP EP12786542.6A patent/EP2711111A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2012-05-18 US US14/118,446 patent/US20140202286A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2012-05-18 WO PCT/JP2012/062736 patent/WO2012157733A1/en active Application Filing
- 2012-05-18 JP JP2013515210A patent/JPWO2012157733A1/en active Pending
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Also Published As
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US20140202286A1 (en) | 2014-07-24 |
JPWO2012157733A1 (en) | 2014-07-31 |
EP2711111A4 (en) | 2015-05-20 |
CN103635273A (en) | 2014-03-12 |
WO2012157733A1 (en) | 2012-11-22 |
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