SPHEROIDIZATION OF IRREGULARLY SHAPED METAL POWDERS

Abstract

Irregularly shaped powders of aluminium, 90:10 bronze, 302B stainless steel, electrolytic copper, titanium, molybdenum, and tungsten carbide were converted into spherically shaped powders by dropping the powders through vertical furnaces. Several types of furnaces were built and used. The operating temperatures extended from 1650 to 3000°C, depending on the material being spheroidized, and the protective atmosphere was argon, helium, or hydrogen. The finished powders had excellent sphericity and density.