Introducing a Shenyang manufacturer of vacuum gas atomization powder equipment—and how they enhance the sphericity of metal powders produced via the enhanced gas atomization method.

　　 Shenyang Vacuum Atomization Powder-Making Equipment Manufacturer Introduce a method to enhance the sphericity of metal powders produced by the gas atomization process.

　　Metal powders are the materials used in laser-based 3D printing. Currently, the most common production method for metal powders is gas atomization. This process involves using a high-speed, high-pressure gas vortex to break up molten shape-memory alloys into tiny droplets, which then solidify into fine powder form. Gas atomization produces metal powders that boast high purity, low oxygen content, controllable particle size distribution, and cost-effectiveness.

　　In the gas atomization process, based on the type of crucible used, it is divided into vacuum induction melting gas atomization and electrode magnetic induction smelting gas atomization. The primary parameters involved in the atomizing gas generation and the atomization process itself include gas properties, inlet gas pressure, and gas flow velocity. Meanwhile, key parameters related to the molten metal flow and associated processes encompass the metal’s melt characteristics, hydrogen pressure, and nozzle diameter. These critical parameters directly influence the particle size distribution and the microstructural organization of the resulting metal powder.

　　During the cooling and solidification stage, the powder-like appearance of the alloy is closely related to the duration of gray cast iron formation and the initial solidification time. If the duration of gray cast iron formation by the shape-memory alloy is shorter than the initial solidification time, there’s ample time for the gray cast iron to form before the alloy begins to solidify, resulting in spherical-shaped powder particles. However, if the duration of gray cast iron formation exceeds the initial solidification time, there isn’t enough time for the gray cast iron to develop fully before the shape-memory alloy starts solidifying, leading to irregularly shaped powder particles.

　　Currently, cold gases are widely used as atomizing agents in gas-atomization powder-making machines, causing the molten metal to solidify into powder before it even has a chance to cool down—particularly with gray cast iron. This often leads to powders with poor sphericity (sphericity ≤80%), which in turn compromises the flowability of the material. Moreover, if the metal powder fails to meet the required particle-size distribution range for laser 3D printing, the powder spreading process during printing becomes uneven and rough, ultimately undermining the quality of the final product significantly.

　　 Shenyang Vacuum Atomization Powder-Making Equipment Manufacturer Applications of Powder Metallurgy Products

　　Powder metallurgy is an industry that produces metal powders and manufactures materials and products primarily using these powders—often combined with small amounts of non-metallic powder—as its main raw material, through a process involving shaping followed by sintering. With the advancement of modern powder metallurgy manufacturing technologies, powder metallurgy components have emerged as viable alternatives to conventional metal materials in applications such as casting, forging, and machining. Additionally, they are increasingly used for complex mechanical parts that would otherwise be impossible or impractical to produce via traditional machining methods, leading to continually expanding application possibilities.

　　Powder metallurgy processes can be found across a wide range of industries—ranging from general mechanical equipment manufacturing to instrumentation, from hardware tools to large-scale machinery, from the electronics industry to motor manufacturing, and from civilian to military sectors. Moreover, these advanced techniques now extend even into cutting-edge high-tech fields. In state-owned economic sectors, powder metallurgy products have become indispensable core components and essential supporting parts for industries such as automotive, motorcycle manufacturing, household appliances, pneumatic tools, agricultural machinery, and office equipment.