PLASMA-ARC REACTOR AND FINE POWDER PRODUCING METHOD Russian patent published in 2005 - IPC

FIELD: powder metallurgy, namely process for producing sub-micron and nanometer size aluminum powder by plasma evaporation.

SUBSTANCE: plasma-arc reactor for producing powder of solid material such as wire includes first electrode and second electrode that may be spaced from first electrode by distance sufficient for plasma arc occurring in space between first and second electrodes. First electrode has duct passing through it; outlet opening of said duct is open to space between first and second electrodes. Reactor includes unit for feeding solid material such as wire through said duct into space between electrodes. If it is necessary to produce passivated aluminum powder, in reactor aluminum wire is fed to inert-gas plasma where aluminum evaporates. Evaporated aluminum is cooled by inert gas for condensing aluminum powder and oxidizing surface of aluminum powder particles with passivating gas.

EFFECT: enhanced efficiency, possibility for producing fine powders of highly constant size and small cohesion forces of particles.

46 cl, 8 dwg, 2 tbl, 1 ex