A Gas Atomization Primer

If you're looking for consistent high quality titanium powder on your additive manufacturing course of, the difficulty will not be with the powder itself, but with the method used to provide it.


In our sequence, "A Clean Ti," we'll take a look at key sources of contamination for titanium and other pre-alloyed, gas atomized, spherical powders. Make no mistake: clear issues. Cross-contamination disrupts elements manufacturing in two key methods:


1. Efficiency - If an element goes to fail it is going to all the time be at the purpose where contamination is current.
2. Process Predictability - Much more importantly, suppliers should anticipate and alleviate contamination on the supply or the powder supply can turn into unpredictable which might price you time and money, and probably customers.


The first step in understanding powder contamination dangers is understanding the method used to produce it. We have made it as simple as potential on this temporary primer.

Four Steps in Gas Atomization

Gas atomization is a robust technology for creating pure, free-flowing, pre-alloyed metallic powder particles including titanium powders. First, the uncooked materials is prepared for atomization in a plasma arc melter. This unit melts the powder into lengthy bars or electrodes so they are often fed into the atomizer.


The electrode is placed in the atomizer and heated until molten metallic drips off the top of the electrode until all but the tip of the electrode is consumed. As the molten steel drips into the atomizer tower it's met by a stream of excessive-pressure, inert gas, typically argon or nitrogen.


The collision breaks the stream into into spherical powder particles that solidify in flight. The particles have the same chemistry because the molten stream, panda dtf printer hence the time period pre-alloyed.

4 Advantages of Fuel Atomization

Whereas it's necessary to understand and handle contamination danger in order to ensure consistent powder high quality, fuel atomization gives some necessary advantages over other pre-alloyed particle production:


1. Chemistry Management: Gas atomization produces very pure powders that help extremely tight chemistry tolerances. Meaning they can be personalized to satisfy stringent utility requirements. 2. Powder Morphology: Fuel atomized powders are spherically formed. 3. Huge Particle Measurement Distribution (PSD): A wide PSD permits for high packing density, which maximizes the amount of powder in a given volume. Because they are free flowing they are ideal for additive manufacturing purposes where powder circulate is important. 4. Highly Versatile Capacity: Gasoline atomizers can produce a few pounds to a number of tons in a single heat with equal ease.

Wish to be taught more fuel atomization? Take a look at our infographic and download our whitepaper.