EP0451552B1 - Procédé et appareil pour produire un jet de métal liquide - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil pour produire un jet de métal liquide Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0451552B1
EP0451552B1 EP91104212A EP91104212A EP0451552B1 EP 0451552 B1 EP0451552 B1 EP 0451552B1 EP 91104212 A EP91104212 A EP 91104212A EP 91104212 A EP91104212 A EP 91104212A EP 0451552 B1 EP0451552 B1 EP 0451552B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
funnel
molten material
induction crucible
induction
coil
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP91104212A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0451552A1 (fr
Inventor
Otto W. Dr. Stenzel
Georg Dr. Sick
Michael Hohmann
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH
Original Assignee
ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH filed Critical ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH
Publication of EP0451552A1 publication Critical patent/EP0451552A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0451552B1 publication Critical patent/EP0451552B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
    • B22F9/00—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof
    • B22F9/02—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes
    • B22F9/06—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material
    • B22F9/08—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material by casting, e.g. through sieves or in water, by atomising or spraying
    • B22F9/082—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material by casting, e.g. through sieves or in water, by atomising or spraying atomising using a fluid

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device and a method according to the preambles of claims 1 and 7, respectively.
  • a method for producing high-purity ceramic-free metal powders is already known, in which a melt flowing freely from a melting tank is atomized by means of a gas stream and subsequently solidifies (DE-A-3 211 861).
  • the melt is maintained by means of an arc electrode and can flow off via an overflow, the atomization taking place below the overflow.
  • molten metal is electromagnetically held in the melt by means of a coil placed around a container (US-A-4,762,553).
  • the stream of molten material is electromagnetically enclosed and brought to a predetermined flow diameter.
  • the constricted metal stream is then disintegrated again and atomized into small droplets, which form a metal powder by cooling.
  • Nothing is said about the electrical and thermal properties of the container holding the melt.
  • a drip-melting process in which rod-shaped starting material is melted and fed to an atomizing nozzle (DE-A-3 433 458).
  • the rod-shaped material is displaced vertically against an induction coil, the axial extent and the opening of which are smaller than the rod diameter, and the end of the lower end of the rod is held at a substantially constant axial distance above the induction coil.
  • a disadvantage of this process is that the starting material must be in the form of a rod.
  • the object of the invention is to generate a liquid metal jet that is as thin as possible while avoiding the risk of freezing, and to specifically freeze the outlet and melt it again.
  • the advantage achieved by the invention consists in particular in that the melt in the casting funnel is heated inductively and at the same time the cooling wall contact of the melt with the container is reduced. This makes it possible to keep the heat transfer coefficient between the melt and the crucible small, with the result that with a small outlet diameter of z. B. 5 mm to 20 mm the freezing of the cross section is prevented in continuous operation.
  • a melting trough 1 shows a melting trough 1, in which a metal melt 4 is generated by means of a plasma jet 2, which comes from a plasma cannon 3 which is only indicated.
  • a funnel-shaped, slotted, cold induction crucible 6 which has the shape of a paraboloid and is surrounded by an induction coil 7, which adapts to the outer contour of the cooled funnel 6.
  • This induction coil 7 is connected to an AC power source 8.
  • the induction field of this coil couples to the melt 4 in the funnel 6 and heats the melt.
  • an opening 9 is provided, from which liquid metal 10 flows.
  • the cold funnel 6 consists of several segments 11 to 17, which are separated from one another by slots 18 to 21.
  • These segments 11 to 17 are cooled with water via channels 22, 25, which are supplied via ring distributors 23, 24, 26, 27. Such water-cooled segments are already known per se (see, for example, EP-A-0 276 544).
  • Below the cold funnel 6 there is an atomization chamber 28, into which an atomization nozzle 29 opens from the side.
  • This nozzle 29 is aligned precisely with the falling path of the liquid metal 10, so that a gas jet 30 emerging from the nozzle 29 at high speed always detects the liquid 10 from the same direction and divides it into a stream of very fine metal particles 31. Based on the impulse they received from the gas jet 30, these metal particles 31 describe a parabolic trajectory which finally ends in a drop shaft 32 which is attached to the atomization chamber 28 in a side and downward direction.
  • a gas line 35 with a metering valve 36 also opens into the atomizing chamber 28, through which the entire device can be filled with a protective gas.
  • the chamber 28 can be evacuated. A suction nozzle required for this is, however, not shown for the sake of simplicity.
  • the average power density of the power induced in the melt is chosen so large that the heat losses in the funnel 6 are approximately compensated.
  • the electromagnetic forces which exert a pressure on the liquid metal in the funnel 6 and which are generated by the coil 7 with the turns 37 to 42.
  • the compensation of the liquid pressure is of importance in that the heat transfer coefficient in the cold induction crucible is dependent on the resulting liquid pressure which presses the melt against the cold crucible segments 11 to 17.
  • the liquid pressure can be completely or only partially compensated for by the electromagnetic radiation pressure.
  • the radiation pressure at the slots 18 to 21 is higher than in the middle of the web.
  • a high contact pressure of the melt means that a large heat flow occurs. Greater induction power is required to compensate for the increased heat losses. Because of the in principle poor electrical efficiency, which is geometrically determined, an unnecessarily large power supply is then required.
  • the radiation pressure, which acts on the melt in the funnel 6, must not be so great that the melt is prevented from escaping. Spatial field strength changes must not stimulate turbulent flow. This condition is ensured by a conical or rotationally hyperbolic shape of the inner funnel contour.
  • the cone shape has advantages in terms of production engineering, but process engineering disadvantages in the case of beam shaping. Curved segments 11 to 15 are difficult to manufacture, but they allow a better distribution of force and power in the melt, and their shape comes very close to the ideal fluidic shape of a potential funnel.
  • the suitable frequency of the voltage source 8 to meet the requirement for compensation of the liquid pressure and compensation of the heat losses can be selected in accordance with the melting material.
  • vertical gas atomization or rotary atomization can also be provided.
  • a standing wave generation is also conceivable.
  • metal powder investment casting can also be produced, so that the entire atomizing device is dispensed with.
  • Metallic, water-cooled containers or cold containers with a separate induction coil can be provided as storage containers 1, from which the liquid metal flows into the funnel 6.
  • An arc heater or an electron beam heater can replace a plasma beam generator 3.
  • FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the invention, in which an overflow trough 50 is provided, the melt 51 of which flows into the melting trough 1 via a spout 52.
  • the melt 51 of this overflow trough 50 is fed by a plasma jet 53 from a plasma source 54, which melts a rod 55 which is pushed into the plasma jet 53.
  • annular nozzle 56 is provided which vertically atomizes the jet 10 coming from the funnel 6.
  • a relatively large chute 62 ends in a tapering powder tower 63, in which the atomized powder collects.

Landscapes

  • Manufacture Of Metal Powder And Suspensions Thereof (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Dispositif pour la formation d'un courant de matière fondue (4) comprenant
    un creuset d'induction en forme d'entonnoir (6), qui présente une surface interne, qui se rétréçit vers le bas et qui présente une ouverture inférieure (9) qui dispose d'une surface de section transversale plus petite qu'une ouverture supérieure,
    comprenant un refroidissement par fluide pour le refroidissement du creuset d'induction (6) et
    une source de courant alternatif qui est reliée à la bobine d'induction (7) et qui alimente cette dernière en courant alternatif,
    la bobine d'induction (7) s'étendant autour de la surface supérieure du creuset d'induction (6),
    caractérisé par
    un bac de fusion (1) avec une ouverture (5) pour l'amenée de la matière fondue (4) dans le creuset d'induction en forme d'entonnoir (6),
    ce bac de fusion (1) étant relié au creuset d'induction (6), une surface externe du creuset d'induction (6) qui se rétréçit en s'éloignant du bac de fusion (1),
    la bobine d'induction (7) se rétréçissant également comme la surface externe supérieure du creuset d'induction (6) et
    la matière fondue étant chauffée dans le creuset d'induction (6) et exerçant une force électromagnétique sur la matière fondue dans le creuset d'induction (6) et
    réduisant ainsi la pression de liquide de la matière fondue sur la paroi interne du creuset d'induction (6) en fonction du courant alternatif appliqué.
  2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la surface supérieure interne du creuset d'induction (6) présente un contour qui correspond essentiellement à un paraboloïde de révolution.
  3. Dispositif selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la surface supérieure interne du creuset d'induction (6) présente plusieurs segments (11 à 17) et en ce que le refroidissement par fluide (25) est relié fonctionnellement à chacun des segments et refroidit ces segments (11 à 17).
  4. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il est prévu un dispositif d'atomisation horizontal (29) en aval du creuset d'induction (6) en forme d'entonnoir.
  5. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il est prévu un bac de trop-plein (50) d'où s'écoule la fonte (51) dans le bac de fusion (1).
  6. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il est prévu un dispositif d'atomisation vertical (56) en aval du creuset d'induction (6) en forme d'entonnoir.
  7. Procédé pour la formation d'un jet de matière fondue (10), le procédé comprenant les étapes suivantes :
    préparation d'une quantité prédéterminée de matière fondue (4) dans un récipient de fusion (1) s'étendant de manière concave vers le haut ;
    préparation d'un entonnoir métallique (6) qui est en relation d'écoulement avec le récipient de fusion (1) ;
    l'entonnoir (6) présentant plusieurs segments verticaux d'entonnoir (11 à 15), refroidis par liquide et disposés en forme de cercle qui définissent un contour interne d'entonnoir ;
    préparation d'une bobine (7) qui entoure l'entonnoir (6), un courant alternatif pouvant passer par la bobine (7) ;
    amenée de la matière fondue (4) à s'écouler depuis le récipient en fusion (1) à travers l'entonnoir (6), la matière fondue (4) étant recueillie par le contour interne d'entonnoir et étant guidée par l'entonnoir (6) ; et
    application du courant alternatif à la bobine (7) pour réchauffer la matière fondue (4) qui s'écoule à travers l'entonnoir (6).
  8. Procédé selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que la sortie du produit de fusion hors de l'entonnoir (6) est bloquée ou libérée en fonction de la densité de courant de la bobine (7).
  9. Procédé selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que la densité moyenne de la puissance induite par la fonte est sélectionnée de manière suffisante pour compenser à peu près les pertes thermiques dans l'entonnoir (6).
  10. Procédé selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce qu'en vue de la fusion de la fonte solidifiée dans l'entonnoir, on utilise une densité de puissance supérieure à ce qui est dégagé en moyenne par les pertes thermiques et en ce que les forces de pression électromagnétiques sont plus fortes que les forces qui correspondent à la hauteur statique de la colonne de liquide se trouvant dessus.
EP91104212A 1990-04-09 1991-03-19 Procédé et appareil pour produire un jet de métal liquide Expired - Lifetime EP0451552B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE4011392A DE4011392B4 (de) 1990-04-09 1990-04-09 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Formung eines Gießstrahls
DE4011392 1990-04-09

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0451552A1 EP0451552A1 (fr) 1991-10-16
EP0451552B1 true EP0451552B1 (fr) 1997-04-23

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EP91104212A Expired - Lifetime EP0451552B1 (fr) 1990-04-09 1991-03-19 Procédé et appareil pour produire un jet de métal liquide

Country Status (3)

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EP (1) EP0451552B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP3063861B2 (fr)
DE (2) DE4011392B4 (fr)

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JP5803198B2 (ja) * 2011-03-25 2015-11-04 セイコーエプソン株式会社 金属粉末製造装置および金属粉末製造方法
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP3063861B2 (ja) 2000-07-12
DE59108671D1 (de) 1997-05-28
JPH06128611A (ja) 1994-05-10
DE4011392A1 (de) 1991-10-10
DE4011392B4 (de) 2004-04-15
EP0451552A1 (fr) 1991-10-16

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