A caster assembly configured to process and store a material includes a reaction chamber, a storage assembly configured to store material processed in the reaction chamber, and a blower configured to process and store the material. The reaction chamber includes a vessel configured to hold the material in a melted state prior to processing and a powder generating assembly configured to receive the material from the melting vessel. The powder generating assembly includes a feeding chamber and a feeding device disposed at least partially within the feeding chamber. The feeding device includes at least one nozzle configured to inject inert fluid, where the fluid is a gas, liquid, or combination of the two into the feeding chamber and a material inlet through which the material is configured to flow into the feeding chamber to be exposed to the inert fluid, where the fluid is a gas, liquid, or combination of the two.

Atomization processes for manufacturing a metal powder or an alloy powder having a melting point comprising of about 50 Celsius to about 500 Celsius are provided herein. In at least one embodiment, the processes comprise providing a melt of a metal or an alloy having said melting point of about 50 Celsius to about 500 Celsius through a feed tube; diverting the melt at a diverting angle with respect to a central axis of the feed tube to obtain a diverted melt; directing the diverted melt to an atomization area; and providing at least one atomization gas stream to the atomization area. The atomization process can be carried out in the presence of water within an atomization chamber used for the atomization process. In at least one embodiment, the processes provide a distribution of powder with an average particle diameter under 20 microns with geometric standard deviation of lower than about 2.0.

Atomization processes for manufacturing a metal powder or an alloy powder having a melting point comprising of about 50 Celsius to about 500 Celsius are provided herein. In at least one embodiment, the processes comprise providing a melt of a metal or an alloy having said melting point of about 50 Celsius to about 500 Celsius through a feed tube; diverting the melt at a diverting angle with respect to a central axis of the feed tube to obtain a diverted melt; directing the diverted melt to an atomization area; and providing at least one atomization gas stream to the atomization area. The atomization process can be carried out in the presence of water within an atomization chamber used for the atomization process. In at least one embodiment, the processes provide a distribution of powder with an average particle diameter under 20 microns with geometric standard deviation of lower than about 2.0.

An apparatus for producing metallic powders from molten feedstock includes a heating source for melting a solid feedstock into a molten feed, and a crucible for containing the molten feed. A liquid feed tube is also provided to feed the molten feed as a molten stream. A plasma source delivers a plasma stream, with the plasma stream being adapted to be accelerated to a supersonic velocity and being adapted to then impact the molten stream for producing metallic powders. The feed tube extends from the crucible to a location where a supersonic plasma plume atomizes the molten stream. The plasma source includes at least two plasma torches provided with at least one supersonic nozzle aimed towards the molten stream. The multiple plasma torches are disposed symmetrically about the location where the supersonic plasma plumes atomize the molten stream, such as in a ring-shaped configuration.

The present invention provides a power manufacturing apparatus capable of preventing particle growth when fine powder is formed through a fluid, the apparatus comprising: a molten steel providing part for providing molten steel; and a cooling fluid spraying part which is arranged at a lower part of the molten steel providing part and sprays a cooling fluid on the molten steel in order to pulverize the molten steel provided by the molten steel providing part, wherein the cooling fluid spraying part forms a first flow for cooling the molten steel so as to pulverize the molten steel and a second flow for forming a descending air current in the molten steel.

A caster assembly configured to process and store a material includes a reaction chamber, a storage assembly configured to store material processed in the reaction chamber, and a blower configured to process and store the material. The reaction chamber includes a vessel configured to hold the material in a melted state prior to processing and a powder generating assembly configured to receive the material from the melting vessel. The powder generating assembly includes a feeding chamber and a feeding device disposed at least partially within the feeding chamber. The feeding device includes at least one nozzle configured to inject inert fluid, where the fluid is a gas, liquid, or combination of the two into the feeding chamber and a material inlet through which the material is configured to flow into the feeding chamber to be exposed to the inert fluid, where the fluid is a gas, liquid, or combination of the two.

The present disclosure is directed to methods of preparing substantially spherical metallic alloyed particles, having micron and sub-micron (i.e., nanometer)-scaled dimensions, and the powders so prepared, as well as articles derived from these powders. In particular embodiments, these metallic alloyed particles, comprising rare earth metals, can be prepared in sizes as small 80 nm in diameter with size variances as low as 2-5%.

Atomization processes for manufacturing a metal powder or an alloy powder having a melting point comprising of about 50 Celsius to about 500 Celsius are provided herein. In at least one embodiment, the processes comprise providing a melt of a metal or an alloy having said melting point of about 50 Celsius to about 500 Celsius through a feed tube; diverting the melt at a diverting angle with respect to a central axis of the feed tube to obtain a diverted melt; directing the diverted melt to an atomization area; and providing at least one atomization gas stream to the atomization area. The atomization process can be carried out in the presence of water within an atomization chamber used for the atomization process. In at least one embodiment, the processes provide a distribution of powder with an average particle diameter under 20 microns with geometric standard deviation of lower than about 2.0.

A metal powder production apparatus includes a molten metal supply section which supplies a molten metal, a cylindrical body which includes an upper part placed on a lower side of the molten metal supply section and a lower part provided on a lower side of the upper part, a fluid jet section which jets a gas (fluid) toward the molten metal, and a cooling liquid outflow section which allows a cooling liquid to flow out along the inner circumferential surface of the upper part. In the metal powder production apparatus, an angle formed by the axial line of the upper part of the cylindrical body and the vertical line is 0 or more and 20 or less, and an angle formed by the axial line of the lower part of the cylindrical body and the vertical line is 0 or more and 20 or less.

The problem addressed by the present invention is providing a method for producing microparticles. At least two fluids to be processed, a raw material fluid that contains a raw material and a processing fluid that contains a substance for processing the raw material are mixed in a thin film fluid formed between at least two surfaces for processing that are disposed so as to face each other, that can approach and separate from each other and at least one of which rotates relative to the other, and microparticles of the raw material that is processed are obtained. At this time, the proportion of the microparticles of the raw material which has been processed that coalesces with each other is controlled by controlling the circumferential speed of the rotation in a confluence section in which the raw material fluid and processing fluid flow together.