Preparation process of spherical metal powder for 3D printing

 Spherical metal powder is the core material of metal 3D printing and the most important link in the 3D printing industry chain.At present, the preparation methods of metal powder for 3D printing mainly include atomization method, rotating electrode method, spheroidization method and so on.

1.1 Atomization method

The powder produced by the atomization method has accounted for more than 80% of the metal 3D printing powder in the world today. The preparation method of powder condensed into solid powder.

1.2 Rotating electrode method

The rotating electrode method uses a metal or alloy as a consumable electrode, and its end surface is heated by an arc to melt into a liquid, and under the action of the centrifugal force of the high-speed rotation of the electrode, the liquid is thrown and crushed into fine droplets. Its principle structure is as follows: Figure 4 shows. Generally speaking, the cooling rate of the rotating electrode is about 103~104K/s, and the rotation speed of the electrode is 10 000~30 000 r/min. The particle size of the prepared powder decreases with the increase of the electrode rotation speed and electrode diameter. The range is usually between 50~350μm.

1.3 Spheroidization method

The spheroidization method is mainly to spheroidize the irregular powder produced by the crushing method and the physical and chemical method. It is considered to be the most effective process for obtaining high-density spherical powder. Its principle is to use a heat source with high temperature and high energy density ( Plasma), the powder particles are rapidly heated and melted, and condensed into spherical droplets under the action of their surface tension, and then rapidly cooled after entering the cooling chamber to obtain spherical powder. At present, the preparation process of spheroidization method is mainly divided into radio frequency ion spheroidization method and laser spheroidization method. Since the initial powder will produce a certain agglomeration phenomenon, it will melt as a whole during the spheroidization process, resulting in an increase in the particle size of the prepared spherical metal powder.

Our company can manufacture many kinds of 3D printing spherical powders， such as hafnium diboride powder, Zirconium diboirde powder, titanium carbide powders,etc,.

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