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ABSTRACT
A pilot plant gas atomizer is described which is suitable for the production of rapidly solidified magnesium powders and other reactive metals. Safety features of the plant and the operating procedure are discussed. Results are presented of the particle size distributions obtained in pure magnesium which are compared with those of aluminum. It is noted that magnesium powders obtain about the same median diameter as aluminum powders made under similar atomizing conditions and at the same volumetric flow rate of the liquid metal, despite the fact that the surface tension and the viscosity of magnesium are lower and, therefore, more favorable for aerodynamic break up in atomization. This is explained in terms of the lower density, hence the faster acceleration, of magnesium droplets in the gas jet, as a result of which the time available for efficient break up in regions of high relative velocity is shorter. Recommendations are put forward for future research based on gas atomized magnesium powders.
