US3428718A - Method for the liquid disintegration of metal - Google Patents

Method for the liquid disintegration of metal Download PDF

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Publication number
US3428718A
US3428718A US466028A US3428718DA US3428718A US 3428718 A US3428718 A US 3428718A US 466028 A US466028 A US 466028A US 3428718D A US3428718D A US 3428718DA US 3428718 A US3428718 A US 3428718A
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Prior art keywords
metal
steam
zone
jet
disintegration
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Expired - Lifetime
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US466028A
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English (en)
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Elis Erik Vilhelm Helin
Yngve Lennart Lagerholm
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ESAB AB
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Elektriska Svetsnings AB
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    • 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 method of disintegrating metal comprising the steps of projecting a stream of molten metal, projecting a stream of condensible vapor to a zone adjoining said stream of molten metal, and causing the stream of vapor to condense rapidly in said zone, whereby a vigorous agitation is produced in said zone to disintegrate said stream of metal into a shower of discrete particles.
  • the invention relates to the production of metal powder or metal granules directly from molten metal by the action of a jet or blast of a fluid subdividing agent on a stream or jet of the molten metal, without the aid of rotary vanes or other mechanical means for shattering the stream of molten metal.
  • the term metal is used throughout this specification to denote pure metals as well as alloys, for instance ferroalloys, alloy steels, non-ferrous alloys and the like metals.
  • the invention has for its principal object to provide a method for the production of a powder or a granulated product consisting of comparatively coarse particles, for instance with particle sizes exceeding /2 mm. and having a rounded or at least compact particle shape (in contradistinction to jagged or extended particles).
  • Powders or granules (shot) of this type have many uses, for instance as blasting agents in the shot blasting process, or as materials for some powder metallurgical processes, for instance direct rolling of metal strip from powder.
  • Another object is the provision of a liquid disintegration method of producing coarse metal powders which yields a high proportion of particles of uniform size.
  • Still another object is the provision of a liquid disintegration method of making metal powder which is suitable for the production of coarse powders consisting of stainless steel and other steels containing chromium.
  • the stream or jet or metal to be disintegrated is submitted to the action of steam (or any other suitable condensible vapour) which is in a state of rapid condensation induced by the action on the steam of a fluid coolant, such as air or nitrogen or water.
  • a fluid coolant such as air or nitrogen or water.
  • the rapid condensation of the steam generates implosions and resulting in a very vigorous mechanical agitation of the molten metal promoting the shattering of the stream of molten metal into discrete particles.
  • the steam and/or the coolant are supplied to the disintegration zone as jets projected on to the stream of molten metal at such a velocity as to contribute substantially to the breaking up of the metal stream and the removal of the particles formed.
  • FIG. 1 represents a form of apparatus by which the invention may be carried out, in vertical section;
  • FIG. 2 depicts another form of such apparatus in vertical section, the upper part only of the apparatus being shown;
  • FIG. 3 is a view taken below the discharge nozzles towards the underside of the tank lid in FIG. 2;
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 depict as in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, a third form of the apparatus for carrying out the invention
  • FIG. 6 represents still another form of the apparatus by means of which the invention may be practised, in fragmentary vertical section;
  • FIG. 6a is a view from below of the pouring pot which forms part of the apparatus according to FIG. 6.
  • the method aspects of the invention comprises projecting a stream of metal to a zone, projecting a stream of condensible vapourto the zone so as to contact said stream of metal in substantially the zone, and causing the stream of vapour to condense rapidly in said zone, whereby to set up a vigorous agitation in the zone to disintegrate the stream of metal into a shower of discrete particles.
  • the particles are then allowed to cool while falling from the zone of disintegration and then collected in a quenching fluid, such as a pool of water.
  • the apparatus employed for carrying out the invention comprises means for discharging a stream of molten metal to a zone, means for directing at least one jet of condesible vapour towards the stream of molten metal in said zone, and means for supplying a cooling agent to the at least one jet of vapour so as to produce a rapid condensation of the vapour resulting in a vigorous agitating action in the zone where the vapour jet contacts the stream of metal.
  • a cooling agent to the at least one jet of vapour so as to produce a rapid condensation of the vapour resulting in a vigorous agitating action in the zone where the vapour jet contacts the stream of metal.
  • a pouring trough inclined about 30 towards the horizontal plane is adapted to receive molten metal from a ladle 2 and to discharge or project it as a ribbon-shaped stream or jet 3 into the interior of a disintegration tank 4.
  • a nozzle 7 connected to a steam conduit 5 through a reduction valve 6 is disposed a little below the trough 1 and discharges a jet of steam towards the molten metal jet.
  • the axis of the nozzle is substantially parallel to the trough 1, resulting in an acute angle of contact with or impact of the steam jet on the jet of molten metal.
  • the degree of saturation of the emerging steam, the velocity of the steam jet and the distance -between the nozzle and the region in which the jets of steam and metal meet are so adjusted that rapid condensation occurs induced by the surrounding colder air. This is accompanied by vigorous agitation caused by implosions in the region in which the jets of steam and metal meet.
  • the presence of the conditions referred to above can be ascertained in a simple manner by means of a feeler, for instance a wooden stick, inserted into the steam jet. The onset of the desired conditions is marked by strong irregular vibrations in the feeler. It is important that the feeler be held in just the portion of the jet which is to strike the liquid metal.
  • the conditions described result in a very effective disintegration of the liquid metal into particles. The particles are caught by a water bath 8 in the disintegration tank. The distance between the disintegration zone and the surface of the water bath should preferably be sufficient to allow the falling particles to assume a rounded shape and to solidify prior to hitting the surface of the bath.
  • the conditions prevailing in the disintegration zone described hereinbefore are important for disintegrating the molten metal into rounded particles of fairly equal size. If the conditions are allowed to change so that the rapid condensation process is not fully developed (that is, if the length of the steam jet is reduced or if the velocity and/ or the superheating of the steam are increased), inferior results will be obtained. The result will, of course, also be impaired if the rapid condensation process occurs substantially in front of the zone in which the steam jet meets the metal jet. This is because the energy of the condensation process expends itself prematurely.
  • Preferable saturated (or only slightly superheated) steam is supplied to the nozzle at comparatively low pressure, approximately 7 to 15 p.s.i.g. If desired, the superheating of the steam can be controlled by the known method of injecting water into the steam conduit. For convenience, the zone in which the foregoing conditions are met is referred to as the zone of disintegration.
  • the desired con- .densation in the steam jet is induced by the admixture of surrounding colder air admitted through the opening in the roof of the disintegration tank, the admixture being effected by the action of the turbulence of the steam jet.
  • a more effective control of the intensity and the localization of the desired condensation phenomena can be obtained by supplying at least part of the colder fluid t the steam jet in the form of jets out of one or several nozzles.
  • This methol is employed in the embodiments according to FIGS. 2-6.
  • the liquid metal is discharged as a flattened or ribbon-shaped jet 11 through a slit-shaped orifice 9 in the bottom of a pouring pot 10.
  • a pair of nozzles 12, 13 are provided in the disintegration tank 14, each of which is adapted to discharge a steam jet towards one side of the metal jet.
  • the steam jets are symmetrically disposed with regard to the plane of the metal jet. It is, however, also possible to have the steam jets form different angles to the plane of the metal jet and/ or to make one steam jet strike the plane of the metal jet at a spot vertically offset with regard to the spot at which the other steam jet hits the plane of the metal jet in substantially the zone of disintegration.
  • a compressed cooling agent for instance water or nitrogen
  • the orifices 16 are directed so as to make the jets 17' form an angle of about 20 with the metal jet 11.
  • the angle in question is not critical, but should generally not exceed 30.
  • the angle of convergence between the cooling jets 17' and the steam jets should be sufficiently large in order to provide a sudden and thorough condensation of the steam within a limited condensation zone. Generally, said angle of convergence should not be below 10.
  • a nonoxidizing gas such as nitrogen may be supplied to the disintegration chamber from a separate source. In most cases, however, this step may be dispensed with.
  • the apparatus shown in 'FIG. 1, in which the atmospheric air forms the cooling agent, has,
  • the steam nozzles 19 as well as the cooling agent nozzles 20 are set at acute angles less than 45 to the plane of the metal jet.
  • the metal particles produced by the disintegration of the metal jet are in this embodiment accelerated to a large downward velocity by the combined action of the jets of steam and cooling agent.
  • the disintegration tank therefore must have a comparatively large height in order to give the particles sufficient time to assume a rounded shape (and to solidify, if this is required).
  • the condition should be chosen so as to make the discharge velocity of the cooling agent substantially different from the one of the steam.
  • the pouring pot 21 is provided with a row of round bottom holes 22 instead of one single slitshaped orifice. This arrangement is sometimes preferable in such cases in which the metal jet discharged from a slit-shaped orifice has a tendency to contract laterally as a result of a high surface tension and/or a large vertical distance between the orifice and the disintegration zone.
  • EXAMPLE I In a liquid disintegration plant of the type shown in FIG. 1 used for the production of stainless steel powder, the discharge orifice of the nozzle 7 forms a horizontally extending slot having a length of mm. (4 in.) and a width of 2.8 mm. (0.11 in.).
  • the groove of the trough 1 has a width of 65 mm. (2.56 in.).
  • the vertical distance from the discharge orifice of the nozzle to the surface of the pool of water 8 amounts to about 650 mm. (26 in.).
  • the water is preheated to a temperature not below 60 C. F). Saturated steam at a pressure of about 1 kg./cm.
  • a molten charge of stainless steel composed of:
  • the discharge orifice 9 in the bottom of the pouring pot 10 has a length of 30 mm. (1.18 in.) and a width of 5 mm. (0. 2 in.).
  • the discharge orifice of each of the steam nozzles 12, 13 has a length of 40 mm. and a width of 3 mm.
  • the twelve (2X6) discharge orifices of the twin nozzle 15 each have a diameter of 3 mm. (0.12 in.), their centre-to-centre spacing being 6 mm. (0.24 in.).
  • the nozzles 12, 13 are supplied with saturated steam at a pressure of about 0.8 kg./cm. '(11.5 lbs./sq.
  • twin nozzle 15 is supplied with compressed air from a compressed air distribution network through a reduction valve adjusted to provide a flow of compressed air resulting in the desired condition of sudden condensation at the zone in which the jets 17' of compressed air penetrate into the jets of steam emitted by the nozzles 12, 13, the presence of said condition manifesting itself by strong irregular vibrations in a feeler or test stick inserted into the centre of the desired disintegration zone.
  • the vertical distance from the disintegration zone to the surface of the water bath in the lower part of the tank 14 is about 9 feet.
  • the metal is continuously disintegrated into small particles which are allowed to fall freely and solidify into rounded or spheroidal grains before falling into the pool of quenching water.
  • the particle size of the product is fairly uniform, with a small proportion only of dines having a size below 0.5 mm.
  • the method and apparatus of the invention may be applied to the production of a variety of metal powders such as the following: the metal iron and alloys thereof, such as 86% Fe-14% Cr; 82% Fe-l8% Cr; 73% Fe-27% Cr; 74% Fe-l8% Cr-8% Ni; 53% Fe-25% Ni-16% Cr-6% Mo; low, medium and high alloy tool steels and the like; the metal nickel and alloys thereof, such as 80% Ni-20% Cr; 80% Ni-14% Cr-6% Fe; 73.8% Ni-15% Cr-7% Fe-1% Cb-2.5% Ti-0.7% Al; cobalt and cobalt-base alloys and such other non-ferrous metals as copper and the commercially known copper-base alloys.
  • the metal iron and alloys thereof such as 86% Fe-14% Cr; 82% Fe-l8% Cr; 73% Fe-27% Cr; 74% Fe-l8% Cr-8% Ni; 53% Fe-25% Ni-16% Cr-6% Mo
  • low, medium and high alloy tool steels and the like the metal nickel and alloy
  • An important advantage of the invention is that because the particles produced are substantially uniform in size, they exhibit uniform packing densities and, moreover, are characterized by free-flowing properties.
  • a method of disintegrating metal comprising:

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US466028A 1964-07-09 1965-06-22 Method for the liquid disintegration of metal Expired - Lifetime US3428718A (en)

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SE08363/64A SE334214B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1964-07-09 1964-07-09

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US (1) US3428718A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT263512B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE666372A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1483566A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1441017A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1107115A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE334214B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3692443A (en) * 1970-10-29 1972-09-19 United States Steel Corp Apparatus for atomizing molten metal
US3771929A (en) * 1969-12-15 1973-11-13 Stora Kopparbergs Bergslags Ab Means for continuously cooling powder produced by granulating a molten material
US3813196A (en) * 1969-12-03 1974-05-28 Stora Kopparbergs Bergslags Ab Device for manufacture of a powder by atomizing a stream of molten metal
US3814558A (en) * 1969-09-04 1974-06-04 Metal Innovations Inc Apparatus for producing low oxide metal powders
USRE30879E (en) * 1969-09-04 1982-03-09 Metal Innovations, Inc. Method for producing low oxide metal powders
US4374645A (en) * 1980-07-04 1983-02-22 Paul Wurth S.A. Process for granulation of slag
US6773246B2 (en) * 1996-11-19 2004-08-10 Tsao Chi-Yuan A. Atomizing apparatus and process
CN104004970A (zh) * 2014-03-20 2014-08-27 建德市易通金属粉材有限公司 一种金刚石锯切工具用预合金粉末
CN104690280A (zh) * 2013-12-06 2015-06-10 财团法人金属工业研究发展中心 金属粉末的制造方法及装置

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5857374B2 (ja) * 1975-08-20 1983-12-20 日本板硝子株式会社 繊維の製造方法
SE8201679L (sv) 1981-03-23 1982-09-24 Billerud Uddeholm Ab Sett vid upplosning av en smelta samt anordning for sonderdelning av smelt material
EP0325676B1 (en) * 1988-01-29 1993-01-07 Norsk Hydro A/S Apparatus for producing metal powder
DE3811077A1 (de) * 1988-03-29 1989-10-19 Mannesmann Ag Einrichtung fuer die zerstaeubung eines giessstrahles fluessigen metalls
GB8813338D0 (en) * 1988-06-06 1988-07-13 Osprey Metals Ltd Powder production
SE507828C2 (sv) * 1992-01-28 1998-07-20 Hg Tech Ab Atomiseringsförfarande
AU6300399A (en) * 1998-09-23 2000-04-10 Kevin Philippe Daniel Perry Apparatus and method for atomising a liquid and granulating a molten substance
RU2251471C1 (ru) * 2003-12-15 2005-05-10 Государственное Учреждение Институт металлургии Уральского отделения Российской Академии Наук (ГУ ИМЕТ УрО РАН) Установка для получения металлической дроби

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2070134A (en) * 1934-10-06 1937-02-09 Harmon E Keyes Preparation and use of iron as a precipitant
US2315735A (en) * 1940-05-15 1943-04-06 Nat Gypsum Co Method of and apparatus for blowing mineral wool
CA587343A (en) * 1959-11-17 Nilsson Eric Method and a device for pulverizing and/or decomposing solid materials
US3104164A (en) * 1961-04-06 1963-09-17 Kinney Eng Inc S P Method of and apparatus for processing slag

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA587343A (en) * 1959-11-17 Nilsson Eric Method and a device for pulverizing and/or decomposing solid materials
US2070134A (en) * 1934-10-06 1937-02-09 Harmon E Keyes Preparation and use of iron as a precipitant
US2315735A (en) * 1940-05-15 1943-04-06 Nat Gypsum Co Method of and apparatus for blowing mineral wool
US3104164A (en) * 1961-04-06 1963-09-17 Kinney Eng Inc S P Method of and apparatus for processing slag

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3814558A (en) * 1969-09-04 1974-06-04 Metal Innovations Inc Apparatus for producing low oxide metal powders
USRE30879E (en) * 1969-09-04 1982-03-09 Metal Innovations, Inc. Method for producing low oxide metal powders
US3813196A (en) * 1969-12-03 1974-05-28 Stora Kopparbergs Bergslags Ab Device for manufacture of a powder by atomizing a stream of molten metal
US3771929A (en) * 1969-12-15 1973-11-13 Stora Kopparbergs Bergslags Ab Means for continuously cooling powder produced by granulating a molten material
US3692443A (en) * 1970-10-29 1972-09-19 United States Steel Corp Apparatus for atomizing molten metal
US4374645A (en) * 1980-07-04 1983-02-22 Paul Wurth S.A. Process for granulation of slag
US6773246B2 (en) * 1996-11-19 2004-08-10 Tsao Chi-Yuan A. Atomizing apparatus and process
CN104690280A (zh) * 2013-12-06 2015-06-10 财团法人金属工业研究发展中心 金属粉末的制造方法及装置
CN104004970A (zh) * 2014-03-20 2014-08-27 建德市易通金属粉材有限公司 一种金刚石锯切工具用预合金粉末

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1107115A (en) 1968-03-20
AT263512B (de) 1968-07-25
SE334214B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-04-19
BE666372A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1965-11-03
DE1483566A1 (de) 1969-02-20
FR1441017A (fr) 1966-06-03

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