Process Parameters Affecting Particle Size of Water Atomised Bronze Powder

Author： Brito Correia J. Shohoji Nobumitsu

ISSN： 1743-2901

Source： Powder Metallurgy, Vol.31, Iss.4, 1988-01, pp. : 277-280

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Abstract

Bronze powders were produced using a water atomiser possessing a pair of main nozzles and a pair of subnozzles. Process parameters were varied in the following ranges: water pressure 100–200 bar; total water flow/metal flow ratio 2·8–7·7; and primary water flow/metal flow ratio 1·2–5·2. Primary water flow from the main nozzles was directed at the molten metal stream from the tundish nozzle. These water atomisation runs produced powders whose median particle size (characterised by sieving) ranged from 50 to 150 μm. Controlling factors for powder size appeared to be water pressure and primary water flow/metal flow ratio. While it appears to be common practice to characterise water atomisation runs by total water flow/metal flow ratio and water pressure, correlation between the former and particle size was not good for the bronze powder batches produced. The present observations suggest that solidification of bronze powders atomised by the action of the primary water spray had been completed before the particles encountered the secondary water spray from the subnozzles. PM/0441