Characterization of spherical AlSi10Mg powder produced by double-nozzle gas atomization using different parameters
(1. National Engineering Research Center of Near-Net Shape Forming for Metallic Materials, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China;
2. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Processing and Forming of Advanced Metallic Materials, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China;
3. Jiangxi Yuean Superfine Metal Co., Ltd., Ganzhou 341000, China;
4. Foshan Suizhibo Novel Materials Co., Ltd., Foshan 528000, China)
2. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Processing and Forming of Advanced Metallic Materials, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China;
3. Jiangxi Yuean Superfine Metal Co., Ltd., Ganzhou 341000, China;
4. Foshan Suizhibo Novel Materials Co., Ltd., Foshan 528000, China)
Abstract: A self-developed double-nozzle gas atomization technique was used to produce AlSi10Mg powder. Effects of delivery tube diameter, gas pressure, and melt superheat on powder characteristics were investigated. The concepts of bluntness and outgrowth were introduced to analyze powder sphericity and satellite index quantitatively. The results showed that the median diameters of all atomized powders ranged from 25 to 33 μm. The highest yield rate (72.13%) of fine powder (<50 μm) was obtained at a superheat of 350 K. The powder size decreased with increasing melt superheat but increased with increasing delivery tube diameter. Powders with bluntness values between 96% and 98% accounted for over 60%. The outgrowth values demonstrated that 70%-85% of all powders did not contain satellite particles, with few powders adhered two or three particles. Not only Al and Si phases were present but also a metastable Al9Si phase was detected.
Key words: gas atomization; AlSi10Mg powder; particle size; particle shape; bluntness; outgrowth