METHOD FOR PRODUCING TITANIUM PARTICLES

Assignee

CRUCIBLE MATERIALS CORPORATION, A CORP. OF DE

Filed

Nov 9, 1989

Granted

Jan 28, 1992

Location

CORAOPOLIS PA US

Abstract

Titanium is induction melted to produce a molten mass thereof and a water-cooled crucible having a nonoxidizing atmosphere and a bottom opening. The current to the coil used for induction melting is adjusted to produce a levitation effect on the molten mass in the crucible to prevent the molten mass from flowing out of the bottom opening. The molten mass is also maintained out-of-contact with the crucible by providing a solidified layer of titanium between the molten mass and the crucible. After production of the molten mass of titanium, the current to the induction coil is reduced to reduce the levitation effect and allow the molten mass to flow out of the bottom opening of the crucible as a free-falling stream of molten titanium. This stream is struck with an inert gas jet to atomize molten titanium to form spherical particles. Spherical particles are cooled to solidify them and are then collected. The free-falling stream from the crucible may be directed to a tundish from which the molten mass flows through a nozzle for atomization. The titanium may be melted to form the molten mass outside the crucible with a molten mass then being introduced to the crucible.

Source: Google Patents