Abstract: A process and apparatus prepares and collects metal nanoparticles by forming a vapor of aluminum or copper metal that is solid at room temperature, the vapor of the metal being provided in an inert gaseous carrying medium. At least some of the metal is solidified within the gaseous stream. The gaseous stream and metal material is moved in a gaseous carrying environment into or through a dry mechanical pumping system. While the particles are within the dry mechanical pumping system or after the nanoparticles have moved through the dry pumping system, the vaporized metal material and nanoparticles are contacted with an inert liquid collecting medium.

Abstract: A process and apparatus prepares and collects aluminum and copper metal nanoparticles by forming a vapor of a metal that is solid at room temperature, the vapor of the metal being provided in an inert gaseous carrying medium. At least some of the metal is solidified within the gaseous stream. The gaseous stream and metal material is moved in a gaseous carrying environment into or through a dry mechanical pumping system. While the particles are within the dry mechanical pumping system or after the nanoparticles have moved through the dry pumping system, the vaporized metal material and nanoparticles are contacted with an inert liquid collecting medium.

Abstract: A process and apparatus prepares and collects metal nanoparticles by forming a vapor of a metal that is solid at room temperature, the vapor of the metal being provided in an inert gaseous carrying medium. At least some of the metal is solidified within the gaseous stream. The gaseous stream and metal material is moved in a gaseous carrying environment into or through a dry mechanical pumping system. While the particles are within the dry mechanical pumping system or after the nanoparticles have moved through the dry pumping system, the vaporized metal material and nanoparticles are contacted with an inert liquid collecting medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing solder balls including a tundish, a vibrator, a cooling liquid tank an inactive atmospheric chamber, a molten metal receiving tray, a ball collecting barrel, and a cooling liquid reservoir. The tundish has orifices at its bottom. The vibrator is immersed in the molten metal of the tundish and generates vibrations. The cooling liquid tank is situated under the tundish and is provided with a cooling liquid heater at its upper and middle outer surface, a cooling liquid cooler at its lower outer surface, and a cooling liquid discharge conduit at its top. The inactive atmospheric chamber is interposed between the bottom of the tundish and the op surface of the cooling liquid. The molten metal receiving tray is seated on a portion of the inactive atmospheric chamber and is horizontally movable.

Abstract: An electroslag refining apparatus includes upper and lower integral crucibles, with the lower crucible having a drain. In situ hot start is effected by depositing in the lower crucible a pre-refined starter. The starter is melted in the lower crucible to form a starter pool, and slag is deposited atop the starter pool for being melted thereby to develop a slag pool thereatop. An ingot electrode is lowered through the upper crucible to immerse a tip thereof into the slag pool. The electrode is powered to effect resistance heating of the slag pool to melt the electrode tip. The slag and starter pools are increased in volume into the upper crucible, with the drain then being opened to effect steady state operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing fine metal balls comprising a crucible 3 for holding a metal melt and equipped with orifices 2 for ejecting the metal melt; a vibration rod 6 for giving vibration to the melt 1 held in the crucible 3; a vibrator 4 for giving vibration to the vibration rod 6; a means 5 for transmitting the vibration of the vibrator 4 to the vibration rod 6; and a chamber 7 in which melt droplets 9 ejected through the orifices 2 are solidified while dropping, the vibration-transmitting means 5 having one end in contact with the vibrator 4 and the other end abutting a support member 11 connected to the vibration rod 6; the vibration-transmitting means 5 having a cross section decreasing as it nears the support member 11.

Abstract: Method and device for producing ball-shaped metallic particles substantially equal in diameter are disclosed. The device comprises a cylindrical metallic housing and a vessel provided on the cylindrical metallic housing. The vessel has a plurality of small openings through a bottom plate thereof. A vibrator is disposed above the vessel in a manner that the vessel may be subjected to vibration. A pair of pipes are provided to deliver and fill nitrogen or inert gas within the housing. An inclined bottom plate having a soft layer is arranged at a bottom portion of the housing to form a shielding structure. An exhaust pipe is provided at an outlet of the inclined bottom plate, and a selector is arranged at a bottom outlet of the shielding structure.

Abstract: It is the object to provide a production process of monodisperse particle in which monodisperse particle with uniform particle size (particle diameter) can be stably mass-produced, and monodisperse particle produced by this process, and its production apparatus. The supply pipe diameter &dgr;f is set to be greater than the orifice diameter &dgr;o and the internal and external pressure of the slurry retention part b is controlled, and this allows to facilitate supply of the slurry through the supply pipe (21c), and continuously and efficiently supply the slurry, and then to produce monodisperse particle with uniform particle size (particle diameter).

Abstract: Soft solder powder is made in the form of spherical fine metal particles having a grain size ranging from 1 to 100 &mgr;m and a Liquidus temperature <250° C.

Abstract: In a device for atomizing liquid melts, in particular oxidic slags or glasses, including a slag tundish and an outlet opening into which a lance is immersed to inject gases or vapor while forming an annular gap, the lance (3) is comprised of two coaxial tubes (4, 5) which are separately displaceable in the axial direction and fixable in their respective axially displaced positions.

Abstract: In a device for atomizing and granulating liquid oxidic slags such as, e.g., converter slags, blast furnace slags or waste incineration slags, including a slag tundish having an outlet opening into which a height-adjustable lance for a propellant jet opens and to which a cooling chamber is connected, the outlet opening is surrounded by an immersion tube arranged concentrically therewith while forming an annular gap. A guide body capable of being adjusted in the axial direction of the lance is arranged in the region of the nozzle mouth of the propellant jet lance, which guide body deflects the propellant jet in the radial direction. (FIG.

Abstract: In a method for atomizing metal melts, in which the liquid metal bath is sprayed from a tundish via an outlet opening by the aid of a gas into a cooling chamber, or onto a surface to be coated while compacting the comminuted particles by the aid of a propellant gas, the liquid metal melt via an annular gap is introduced into the outlet opening, into which a hot gas having a temperature of between 250° C. and 1300° C. and a supercritical pressure of between 2 and 30 bars is ejected through a Laval nozzle concentrically with said opening. The hot gas is contacted with the melt bath at a speed exceeding supersonic speed, with a radial outwardly directed component or with a twist.

Abstract: A method of forming metal spheres includes ejecting a precisely measured droplet of molten metal from a molten metal mass, buffering the molten metal droplet to reduce the internal kinetic energy of the droplet without solidifying the droplet and cooling the buffered droplet until the droplet solidifies in the form of a metal sphere. An apparatus for fabricating metal spheres includes a droplet generator that generates a droplet from a molten metal mass, a buffering chamber that receives the droplet from the droplet generator, and diminishes internal kinetic energy of the droplet without solidifying the droplet, and a cooling drum that receives the droplet from the buffering chamber, and cools the droplet to the extent that the droplet solidifies into a metal sphere. The apparatus may further include a collector arrangement that receives the metal spheres from the cooling drum and makes the metal sphere available for collection.

Abstract: Method and device for producing ball-shaped metallic particles at least almost equal in diameter are disclosed comprising a cylindrical metallic housing, a vessel provided on the cylindrical metallic housing, the vessel having a plurality of small openings through a bottom plate thereof, a vibrator disposed on a mount to locate above the vessel in a manner that the vessel may be subjected to vibration, a pair of pipes provided to locate at an opposition portion of the cylindrical metallic housing to deliver and fill nitrogen or inert gas within the housing, an inclined bottom plate having a soft layer arranged at a bottom portion of the housing to form a shielding structure, an exhaust pipe provided outwardly at an outlet of the inclined bottom plate and a selector arranged at a bottom outlet of the shielding structure.

Abstract: In a high-speed fabrication process for producing highly uniform metallic microspheres, a molten metal is passed through a small orifice, producing a stream of molten metal therefrom. A series of molten metal droplets forms from the break up of the capillary stream. To achieve high uniformity of the spheres and avoid defects, the droplets are cooled before being captured. Separating the droplets, by causing them to travel in different paths than their adjacent droplets, helps to facilitate the cooling of the droplets. The droplets can be separated by electrostatically charging them as they break off from the capillary stream. The droplets are then passed through an electric field, which can be produced by a pair of deflection plates. The droplets are dispersed by varying the electric field—e.g., by rotating the plates or by varying the voltage applied thereto—or by varying the electrostatic charge of the droplets.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing metal structures in which minute drops of a liquid metal are emitted from an acoustic device through an inert gas. The presence of the inert gas at the surface of the liquid metal prevent the formation of an oxide skin which would absorb acoustic energy and hinder droplet formation and emission. The droplets are then emitted towards a substrate, which may form as a carrier, where they may be used to form solder bumps, circuit traces, or accreted to form a three dimensional device.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing solder balls including a tundish, a vibrator, a cooling liquid tank an inactive atmospheric chamber, a molten metal receiving tray, a ball collecting barrel, and a cooling liquid reservoir. The tundish has orifices at its bottom. The vibrator is immersed in the molten metal of the tundish and generates vibrations. The cooling liquid tank is situated under the tundish and is provided with a cooling liquid heater at its upper and middle outer surface, a cooling liquid cooler at its lower outer surface, and a cooling liquid discharge conduit at its top. The inactive atmospheric chamber is interposed between the bottom of the tundish and the op surface of the cooling liquid. The molten metal receiving tray is seated on a portion of the inactive atmospheric chamber and is horizontally movable.

Abstract: Process and a device for producing metal powders from molten metal. The process includes directing at least three successive gas beams at a molten metal stream inside an atomization chamber, the at least three gas beams being oriented in different directions. The device includes a metallurgical vessel for holding molten metal provided with a nozzle element for discharging a molten metal stream into an atomization chamber as well as at least three gas nozzle elements for providing at least three gas beams of different orientation and directed at different points of the molten metal stream inside the atomization chamber.

Abstract: A system for controlling the flow rate of the stream from an electroslag refining apparatus is taught. The system includes the introduction of unrefined metal into an electroslag refining process in which the unrefined metal is first melted at the upper surface of the refining slag. The molten metal is refined as it passes through the molten slag. The refined metal is collected in a cold hearth apparatus having a skull of refined metal formed on the surface of the cold hearth for protecting the cold hearth from the leaching action of the refined molten metal. A cold finger bottom pour spout is formed at the bottom of the cold hearth to permit dispensing of molten refined metal from the cold hearth.

Abstract: Uniform sized and shaped spheres are formed by applying a minute periodic disturbance to a low viscosity liquid material. Pressure forces the material through at least one orifice in a crucible as a steady laminar stream. The stream enters an enclosed controlled temperature solidification environment which contains at least one heat transfer medium. A charging means is applied to the stream as the stream exits the crucible and breaks into a plurality of spheres to deflect the spheres as they pass through an electric field. The enclosed controlled temperature solidification environment cools and substantially solidifies the spheres.

Abstract: An electroslag refining starter includes a refined disk fixedly joined in a central aperture of a mounting ring. The mounting ring supports the starter in a crucible below an ingot being electroslag refined. The disk is consumed during starting and is replaceable in the same mounting ring for subsequent reuse.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing nanoparticles at a high rate is provided. The system uses two chambers separated by a narrow duct. Contained within the lower chamber is the source material, preferably heated with an electron gun and fed with a continuous feeder for extended nanoparticle production runs. The upper chamber is used to nucleate the nanoparticles, the nanoparticles formed when the source vapor collides with a gas contained within the upper chamber. Depending upon the desired nanoparticles, the gas within the upper chamber is either inert or reactive. The duct connecting the upper and lower chambers is narrow enough to allow differential pumping of the chambers. Furthermore the vapor stream flowing though the duct at high speed provides a pumping action which helps to maintain the differential pressures within the two chambers. At least a portion of the top surface of the upper chamber is cooled, thus providing a condensation site for the nanoparticles.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing coated metal granules is disclosed. The apparatus includes a source of molten metal, a device for forming droplets of the molten metal, a bed of particles for receiving the droplets and a means for introducing a gas to fluidize the bed, cooling equipment to maintain the bed below the solidus temperature of the metal, and a separator for separating solidified granules of the metal from particles of the bed. This apparatus can produce an alloying additive which comprises magnesium granules 1-10 mm in size, at least partially coated with particles of a chloride salt which are attached to the granules by being physically embedded into a surface of the granules. The salt particles remain unmelted or only partially melted during formation of the additive.

Abstract: In the particular embodiment described in the specification, a cold hearth arrangement has a hearth plate forming a floor above the bottom of a melt chamber enclosure and a hearth is removably mounted on the hearth plate. Coolant supply and return lines are connected through the hearth support plate to the bottom of the hearth so that no utility lines are exposed above the floor plate. A mold, which also has water supply and return lines connected to it beneath the floor plate extends through the bottom of the enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for the accurate formation of a free-form three-dimensional article comprises providing a supply of substantially uniform size metal droplets of a desired material wherein each droplet has a positive or negative charge in an enclosed environment. The supply of droplets is focused or aligned into a narrow stream by passing the droplets through or adjacent an alignment mechanism which repels each droplet toward an axis extending through the alignment mechanism. The droplets are deposited in a predetermined pattern at a predetermined rate onto a target to form the three-dimensional article without the use of a mold of the shape of the three-dimensional article.

Abstract: A system for the recycling of overspray powder during spray forming is provided. The system involves providing a refining vessel to contain an electroslag refining layer floating on a layer of molten refined metal. An ingot of unrefined metal is lowered into the vessel into contact with the molten electroslag layer. A current is passed through the slag layer to the ingot to cause surface melting at the interface between the ingot and the electroslag layer. As the ingot is surface melted at its point of contact with the slag, droplets of the unrefined metal are formed and these droplets pass down through the slag and are collected in a body of molten refined metal beneath the slag. The refined metal is held within a cold hearth. At the bottom of the cold hearth, a cold finger orifice permits the withdrawal of refined metal from the cold hearth apparatus. The refined metal passes from the cold finger orifice as a stream.

Abstract: A method for the accurate formation of a three-dimensional article comprises providing a supply of substantially uniform size droplets of a desired material wherein each droplet has a positive or negative charge. The supply of droplets is focused or aligned into a narrow stream by passing the droplets through or adjacent an alignment mechanism which repels each droplet toward an axis extending through the alignment mechanism. The droplets are deposited in a predetermined pattern at a predetermined rate onto a target to form the three-dimensional article without the use of a mold of the shape of the three-dimensional article.

Abstract: Close-coupled atomization systems and methods employing axisymmetric fluid flow and non-axisymmetric melt guide tube exit orifice configuration have demonstrated superior efficiency in the production of fine superalloy powder, such as, for example, nickel base superalloys compared to conventional close-coupled atomization utilizing an axisymmetric annular gas orifice and an axisymmetric guide melt guide tube exit orifice configuration.

Abstract: Close-coupled atomization systems and methods employing non-axisymmetric gas flow have demonstrated superior efficiency in the production of fine superalloy powder, compared to conventional close-coupled atomization utilizing an axisymmetric annular gas orifice and an axisymmetric melt nozzle. A means has been devised for convening otherwise axisymmetric plenums into non-axisymmetric plenums that produce non-axisymmetric gas flow.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for making powder from a metallic melt by atomizing the melt to form droplets and reacting the droplets downstream of the atomizing location with a reactive gas. The droplets are reacted with the gas at a temperature where a solidified exterior surface is formed thereon and where a protective refractory barrier layer (reaction layer) is formed whose penetration into the droplets is limited by the presence of the solidified surface so as to avoid selective reduction of key reactive alloyants needed to achieve desired powder end use properties. The barrier layer protects the reactive powder particles from environmental constituents such as air and water in the liquid or vapor form during subsequent fabrication of the powder to end-use shapes and during use in the intended service environment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for atomizing liquid metal are disclosed. A liquid metal supply is coupled to a nozzle for atomizing a stream of liquid metal in an atomizing zone extending from the nozzle. A viewing instrument provides a field of view extending to the atomization zone. A sensor coupled with the viewing instrument generates an image of the atomizing zone, and a control adjusts a flow rate of the stream responsive to the image.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing metal powders by atomization, the apparatus including melting means for melting the material to be atomized, an atomizing enclosure in which a dispersion head rotating at high speed is disposed to scatter the molten material in atomized form, means for cooling the atomized material and the head, and means for collecting the cooled powder material obtained in this way, said melting means including at least one vertical inductive plasma furnace producing an envelope of plasma-generating gases containing the top face of the dispersion head, and said cooling means comprising both a first series of members for dispensing a cooling fluid disposed in the top portion of the atomizing enclosure to create a cold zone at the periphery of the envelope, and a second series of members for circulating a cooling fluid disposed in the bottom portion of the enclosure to create a cold zone at the bottom face of the head.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for viewing an industrial process in an obscuring environment, such as molten metal atomization, is disclosed. An enclosure defining a chamber for containing a particulate form from atomized liquid metal has a nozzle for atomizing liquid metal mounted thereon in communication with the chamber whereby particles recirculate throughout the chamber. The nozzle being comprised of a cylindrical plenum means and a melt guide tube extending axially therethrough to an exit orifice. The plenum means is configured to provide a jet of atomizing gas converging in an atomizing zone extending from the exit orifice. A viewing means extends through the enclosure to a viewing orifice adjacent the atomization zone, the viewing means being configured to extend a field of view through the chamber to the atomization zone.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing metal powders which is less likely permit variations in cooling rate, ensures rapid solidification at a great cooling rate and readily gives fine particles, and a production apparatus for the method. The method comprises injecting a cooling liquid into a cooling tubular body (1) along an inner peripheral surface thereof to form a cooling liquid layer (9) moving toward a cooling liquid discharge end of the tubular body (1) while swirling along the inner peripheral surface of the tubular body (1); supplying a molten metal (25) to a space (23) inside the cooling liquid layer (9); applying a gas jet (26) as directed toward the cooling liquid layer (9) to the molten metal (25) to divide the molten metal and supply the divided molten metal to the cooling liquid layer (9); and discharging the cooling liquid containing a metal powder solidified in the liquid layer (9) from the cooling liquid discharge end of the tubular body (1) to outside.

Abstract: An improved molten metal spray forming atomization ring converter adapted for the spray forming of a refined molten metal from a molten metal refining or melting chamber wherein the molten metal is atomized into tiny molten droplets by gas impingement in a stream of molten metal and to the structure by which the molten metal droplets are preferentially directed to and deposited on a target surface. The molten metal spray forming atomization ring converter is adapted to control the flow of liquid metal droplets and to avoid a backflow of such droplets during the gas atomization by providing structure, such as small apertures to the inner diameter of the ring, by providing large holes through the inner diameter and adding a porous metal filter to cover the large holes or by providing a gas supply system independent from the atomization system gas supply, such that a pressure or diffused source of gas is provided at the inner bore.

Abstract: A regulating gas flow valve is operatively connected to an oscillating molten metal spray forming ring converter through which a molten metal stream passes. The passing metal stream is impacted by gas jets from the converter which breaks up the metal stream into a spray pattern of small molten metal droplets. The valve regulates the flow of gas into the converter as a function of the converter oscillation which also operates the valve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously producing metals such as zirconium, hafnium, titanium, niobium, vanadium, silicon and tantalum. The corresponding metal halide is reacted with a metallic reducing agent such as aluminum, calcium, magnesium and sodium in a reactor where the reaction takes place at a temperature where the metal reducing agent is below its vaporization temperature and where the metal halide is above its vaporization temperature. The metal formed by the reaction is recovered from the reactor by collecting it in a pool of molten product metal contained in a cold wall induction heated receptacle in the reactor from which the metal product is removed.

Abstract: An electrically heated metal spray apparatus is provided with a supersonic nozzle. Molten metal is injected into a gas stream flowing through the nozzle under pressure. By varying the pressure of the injected metal, the droplet can be made in various selected sizes with each selected size having a high degree of size uniformity. A unique one piece graphite heater provides easily controlled uniformity of temperature in the nozzle and an attached tundish which holds the pressurized molten metal. A unique U-shaped gas heater provides extremely hot inlet gas temperatures to the nozzle. A particularly useful application of the spray apparatus is coating of threads of a fastener with a shape memory alloy. This permits a fastener to be easily inserted and removed but provides for a secure locking of the fastener in high temperature environments.

Abstract: Melt atomizing apparatus comprising a melt supply orifice for supplying the melt for atomization and gas supply orifices proximate the melt supply orifice for supplying atomizing gas to atomize the melt as an atomization spray. The apparatus includes a sensor, such as an optical and/or audio sensor, for providing atomization spray data, and a control unit responsive to the sensed atomization spray data for controlling at least one of the atomizing gas pressure and an actuator to adjust the relative position of the gas supply orifice and melt supply in a manner to achieve a desired atomization spray.

Abstract: Reactive metal granules, especially of magnesium and/or magnesium alloys, are produced directly from molten metal. The metal is fed under pressure to a granulation nozzle which forces the metal to acquire a circular motion of increasing velocity before it reaches the outlet of the nozzle and disintegrates successively into small fragments and droplets. These fragments and droplets are formed in an inactive gas atmosphere in an enclosed system and are thereafter solidified and cooled in a nonoxidizing cooling bath. An apparatus includes a granulation chamber made up of two parts which can be fitted to each other at various positions with an air tight locking system.

Abstract: A molten metal atomization ring structure has an elongated or oval aperture therethrough through which a molten metal stream passes and is broken up into a molten metal spray pattern. The structure may be angularly adjusted about a transverse axis of the aperture at a greater angle without engaging the passing metal stream.

Abstract: A method for improved atomization of molten metal having a melting point above 1000.degree. C. is taught. The atomization is carried out in close coupled atomizer. The melt to be atomized is supplied from a reservoir where it is heated to a temperature slightly above the melting point. The molten metal from the reservoir is guided to the atomization zone by a ceramic melt guide tube. The atomization is accomplished with the aid of a shallow draft atomizing nozzle. The melt in the melt guide tube is heated with the aid of an induction coil which is disposed thereabout and between the reservoir and the shallow draft gas nozzle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas phase reactor for producing finely divided metal and/or ceramic powder and comprising a gas preheater, a gas-introducing part, a flow-shaping part, a reaction tube and a product discharge device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a rapidly solidified ingot characterized by a fine scale microstructure capable of precipitating uniformly dispersed fine particles. A charge of the material is placed in a crucible and heated by a furnace to melt the charge. The melt is discharged from the crucible in a stream along a pouring axis. An ingot mold is oriented at an angle with respect to the pouring axis so that the stream is received in the mold. As the melt is being poured into the mold, the mold is rotated about its central axis at a predetermined speed to continuously shear, both circumferentially and downwardly, a thin layer of the melt from the stream as the stream contacts the sidewall surfaces of the mold. The thin layer is rapidly solidified by the extraction of heat through the mold and is formed, as said ingot mold fills and successive layers are solidified, into an ingot having a fine microstructure capable of developing uniformly dispersed fine particles.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a net form product, including directing a stream of liquid from a nozzle onto a collector of the shape of the desired product, applying an amplitude and time dependent modulated disturbance to the stream to produce a droplet stream, and with the nozzle and collector in a chamber, controlling the chamber environment. An apparatus for manufacturing a net form product having a source of molten material under pressure, a support for positioning a product collector in a chamber with the collector defining a desired product, a droplet stream generator positioned within the chamber and including a nozzle, a conduit for conducting molten material from the material source to the generator nozzle, a mechanism, typically a modulator, for amplitude and time dependent modulation disturbance of the droplet stream, and a drive mechanism for relative movement of the nozzle and support.

Abstract: A method for the electroslag refining of titanium base alloy is provided. The method involves providing a refining vessel to contain an electroslag refining layer floating on a layer of molten refined metal. An ingot of unrefined titanium base alloy having a higher nitrogen content is lowered into the vessel into contact with the molten electroslag layer. A refining current is passed through the slag layer to the ingot to cause surface melting at the interface between the ingot and the electroslag layer. As the ingot is surface melted at its point of contact with the slag, droplets of the unrefined metal are formed and these droplets are refined as they pass down through the slag and are collected in a body of molten refined metal beneath the slag. The refined metal is held within a cold hearth. At the bottom of the cold hearth, a cold finger orifice is provided to permit the withdrawal of refined metal from the cold hearth apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for producing rapidly-solidified flake particles, which combines centrifugal atomization with metal substrate cooling. A stream of molten metal is disintegrated centrifugally into droplets by a rotating disk. Then the molten droplets are solidified as flake particles as soon as impinging upon the annular planar surface of a cooled rotating concave disk. The solidified flake particles are subsequently departed from the annular planar surface by the centrifugal force and collected in a chamber.

Abstract: A method of atomization of refined metal is taught. The method starts with the introduction of unrefined metal into an electroslag refining process in which the unrefined metal is first melted at the upper surface of the refining slag. The molten metal in the form of droplets is refined as it passes through the molten slag. The refined metal droplets are collected in a cold hearth apparatus having a skull of refined metal formed on the surface of the cold hearth and protecting the cold hearth from the leaching action of the refined molten metal. A cold finger bottom pour spout is formed at the bottom of the cold hearth to permit dispensing of molten refined metal from the cold hearth. The rate of flow of molten metal through the cold finger apparatus is controlled principally by controlling the rate of melting of the unrefined metal. The metal flowing from the cold finger apparatus is introduced to the upper end of a ceramic melt guide tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the production of powders from metals. This system has a melting chamber (2) and a powder container (3) separated herefrom. In the melting chamber a metal rod (15) is melted through the high-frequency field of a coil (10) with differently dimensioned windings. The melted metal (28) penetrates through an opening (6) into the powder container (3) wherein it is pulverized in the region of the opening (6) due to different pressures in the melting chamber (2) and powder container (3) as well as by means of a dispersion system (5).

Abstract: An atomization apparatus for atomization of melts of high melting metal is taught. The apparatus includes a melt guide tube adapted to guide a molten metal from a source to an atomization zone where the molten metal is gas atomized. The melt guide tube has an inwardly tapered lower end disposed above the atomization zone. An annular gas supply means is disposed around the melt guide tube. The annular gas supply includes a gas shield for directing gas from an annular plenum of said means toward the lowermost portion of said melt guide tube. The external surface of the gas shield and the external inwardly tapered surface of the melt guide tube are spaced from each other. A highly reflective surface layer is formed on the confronting surfaces of the gas shield and melt guide tube to restrict loss of radiant heat from metal passing through said melt guide tube.