Low-pressure gas atomization of aluminum through a Venturi nozzle

Abstract

A new concept of powder atomization based on the venturi phenomenon is presented in the current work. In the proposed method, the working gas speeds-up while flowing into the venturi nozzle. Under the low static pressure developing at the narrow part of the venturi, liquid metal is sucked and mixed perfectly with the gas. By controlling the operating parameters, metal powder of different sizes and shapes can be produced. Carbon dioxide and pure aluminum were mixed in the nozzle and the effect of different operating gas pressures on the produced particle size and shape were thoroughly investigated. Most of the particles were found to average to almost 150 μm, however, even sub-micron aluminum particles were produced at low mass fractions. With the increase of the gas pressure from 0.5 bar to 4 bar, finer aluminum particles are produced. One of the most attractive features of the proposed method is the low gas pressure required to cause melt atomization, which in certain cases may be up to 30 times lower compared to current industrial atomization methods.