Abstract: An atomizer wheel for the atomization of slurries of highly abrasive materials which includes a hub secured to a rotating shaft, a wheel bottom connected to the hub, a cylindrical side wall connected with the wheel bottom and a cover plate to form a bowl-shaped feed supply chamber. The side wall includes a number of openings fitted with bushings to provide nozzles which eject droplets of a suspension or slurry provided to the bowl-shaped feed supply chamber. The inner end of each of the bushings extend inwardly from the side wall of the wheel and the inner end or at least a portion of the inner end of at least one of the bushings extends radially inwardly from the side wall a greater distance than the inwardly extending ends of other bushings.