James E Blout

US Patent:

51474484, Sep 15, 1992

Filed:

Oct 1, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/591284

Inventors:

Peter R. Roberts - Groton MA
James E. Blout - Concord MA

Assignee:

Nuclear Metals, Inc. - Concord MA

International Classification:

B22F 900

US Classification:

75331

Abstract:

Techniques for producing fine metal powder are described, including producing droplets of molten metal to be formed into a powder, providing an environment including a substance specifically introduced for combining with the droplets, and submitting the droplets to the environment for combining the introduced substance with the droplet metal to form at least a partial coating on the powder including the introduced substance.

US Patent:

48244783, Apr 25, 1989

Filed:

Feb 29, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/161979

Inventors:

Peter R. Roberts - Groton MA
James J. Airey - Groton MA
James E. Blout - Concord MA
Joseph J. Airey - Groton MA

Assignee:

Nuclear Metals, Inc. - Concord MA

International Classification:

B22F 908
B22F 910

US Classification:

75 05C

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for producing fine metal powder. The method includes the steps of forming a centrifugally maintained annulus of a liquified gas quench medium, forming molten metal drops within the eye of the annulus, urging the drops into the quench medium to solidify the drops, and boiling away the quench medium to leave behind clean, unentrained metal powder. The apparatus includes a drum for containing a liquified gas quench medium, means for adding liquified gas to the inside of the drum, and means for rotating the drum to form an annulus of quench medium. The apparatus further includes means for forming molten metal to be made into powder, and means disposed along the longitudinal axis of the drum and within the eye of the annulus for creating molten metal drops. The molten metal drops are then urged into the quench medium to solidify them into a powder, and the quench medium is boiled away to leave behind clean, unentrained metal powder.