Titanium powder production apparatus and method

Abstract

A method and apparatus for producing titanium metal powder from a melt. The apparatus includes an atomization chamber having an inner wall that is coated with or formed entirely of CP-Ti to prevent contamination of titanium metal powder therein. The inner surfaces of all components of the apparatus in a flow path following the atomization chamber may also be coated with or formed entirely of CP-Ti.

Claims

1. Apparatus for producing titanium metal powder from a melt including titanium powder metal, comprising an atomization chamber having an inner wall that is coated with or formed entirely of commercially pure titanium to prevent contamination of titanium metal powder therein, further comprising a powder conveying tube connected to an exit opening of the atomization chamber, a cyclone separator connected to the powder conveying tube and a powder container connected to the cyclone separator, and wherein inner surfaces of the conveying tube, the cyclone separator and the powder container are coated with or formed entirely of commercially pure titanium.

2. A method for preventing contamination of titanium powder in an apparatus for producing it from a melt including titanium powder metal, the apparatus having an atomization chamber with an inner wall, comprising coating the inner wall or forming it entirely of commercially pure titanium, wherein the apparatus further comprises a conveying tube, a cyclone separator and a powder container in a flow path following the atomization chamber, and coating inner surfaces of the conveying tube, the cyclone separator and the powder container with commercially pure titanium or forming the inner surfaces thereof entirely of commercially pure titanium.

3. A method for preventing contamination of titanium powder in an apparatus for producing it from a melt including titanium powder metal, the apparatus having an atomization chamber with an inner wall, comprising coating the inner wall or forming it entirely of commercially pure titanium, and further comprising coating inner surfaces of all components of the apparatus in a flow path following the atomization chamber with commercially pure titanium or forming the inner surfaces entirely of commercially pure titanium.

4. Apparatus for producing titanium metal powder from a melt including titanium powder metal, comprising an atomization chamber having an inner wall that is coated with commercially pure titanium to prevent contamination of titanium metal powder therein, wherein the inner wall is formed of stainless steel.

5. A method for preventing contamination of titanium powder in an apparatus for producing it from a melt including titanium powder metal, the apparatus having an atomization chamber with an inner wall, comprising coating the inner wall with commercially pure titanium, wherein the inner wall is formed of stainless steel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a portion of apparatus for producing titanium powder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(2) Referring to FIG. 1, apparatus 10 for producing titanium powder includes an atomization or hot spray chamber 12 for receiving an atomized liquid metal stream supply from a known system such as a cold wall induction guiding system, an electrode induction melting gas atomization process, a plasma-melting induction-guiding gas atomization method, a triple melt process or any other known system. The powder from the atomization chamber 12 is passed through a conveying tube 14, through a cyclone separator 16 and then into powder containers 18, as shown in FIG. 1.

(3) In accordance with the present invention, the entire inside surface 20 of the atomization chamber 12 is coated with or formed of CP-Ti to prevent contamination of titanium metal powder being produced from a melt including titanium powder metal as hereinbefore described. As an illustrative example, a coating of CP-Ti on the inner surface 20 of the atomization chamber 12 may have a thickness of about 2 mm. The atomization chamber may be formed of any suitable material, such as stainless steel. Alternatively, the atomization chamber 12 can be formed of CP-Ti instead of a coating of CP-Ti on the inner surface formed of another material.

(4) To further ensure against contamination of the titanium powder, the entire flow path after the atomization chamber 12 may be coated with or formed of CP-Ti. For example, the conveying tube 14, cyclone separator 16 and powder containers 18 may all be formed of or coated internally with CP-Ti to prevent any contamination of the titanium powder.

(5) Although a titanium alloy such as Ti-6Al-4V could be used for the liner or chamber wall 20 in the atomization chamber 12 and subsequent flow path if the titanium powder metal being processed is Ti-6Al-4V, CP-Ti is universally acceptable in any titanium alloy since all titanium alloys are primarily composed of titanium metal.

(6) While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.