Influence of the parameters of the process of plasma-arc spheroidization of current-conducting wire from low-carbon steel on the granulometric composition of the produced powders

Development of plasma-arc technologies of spherical granules production for additive manufacturing and powder metallurgy

“…a simpler and technologically accessible method of such atomization is plasma atomization of neutral wires and rods of a small diameter, called plasma atomization (pa), where melting and dispersion of the material of these wires is caused by the energy and pressure of the plasma jet, generated by three plasmatrons (figure 2, b). It is shown in [14] that the above process can have at least eight adjustable technological and structural parameters of the process, which allow regulation of the particles size distribution of the granules. here, the granule size can be calculated, using the following equation:…”

“…this leads to the conclusion that the technology of plasma atomization has a significant potential for further development and practical application in spherical granule manufacturing. One of its variants is the process of plasma-arc atomization of current-carrying wire materials [14]. the above process is characterized by a higher productivity level [18], which can be up to 12-16 kg/h, and simplicity and mobility of the equipment, which allows application of a wide range of standard consumable materials from solid and fluxcored wires and rods; a large number of technological and structural parameters, permitting regulation of the particle size distribution in a broad range of 15-315 μm.…”

“…experimental data [14] showed that use of accompanying gas flow allows significant reduction of maximal drop dimensions from d 90 = 1000 to 315 μm, which enables an essential increase of the amount of the fraction suitable for use in am and granule metallurgy technologies.…”

“…where k is the kinetic energy of turbulence, m 2 /s 2 ; ε is the turbulent energy dissipation rate, m 2 /s 3 ; ρ is the medium density, kg/m 3 ; C = 0.09; μ t value has the dimension of kg/m•s. at the next stage the taylor analogue Break-up (taB) model of hydrodynamic break-up of the drops and the derived experimental data were used to model the process of dispersion of the melt forming during plasma-arc atomization at the edge of current-carrying 1.6 mm wire from AISI 316 steel (14)(15)(16)(17). TAB model draws an analogy between the mass-spring-damper system and oscillations and deformation of the liquid drops leading to their refinement.…”