High Performance Zirconia Atomizing Nozzles
Anderman Ceramic’s can produce in volume high performance Zirconia Atomizing Nozzles for use in the Powder Metallurgy industry. These nozzles are a key component in the manufacturer of metal powders such as Stainless Steel, Nickel & Cobalt based super alloys and other exotic alloys. Applications also include the casting and atomization of Ferrous and Non Ferrous melts.
Atomizing nozzles are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, generally produced to the bespoke requirements of our customers.
One of the key features of our Atomizing Nozzles is the ability to produce to tight dimensional accuracy, which provides stable metal flow characteristics under the most testing of working conditions. The addition of certain stabilising oxides provides high strength, combined with excellent erosion resistance and minimal cracking, resulting from thermal shock.
Powder Metallurgy
The atomizing process is used within the production of a range of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The materials can range from crude aluminium through to exotic super and rare earth alloys. Products formed from the process are used in a diverse range of applications, which include the automotive, aerospace, armament, electronic surface coating, pyrotechnics, paint and refractory industries.
This process is a method of producing powders of varying grain size for use as:
• Bearing surface coating
• Injection moulding
• Sintered products – welding rods etc.
• Photocopier inks
• Iso-statically pressed parts such as gear wheels, valve seats and magnets
Within this process, melting is carried out in high-frequency or induction type furnaces. The weight of the melt ranges from a 200kg charge up to 5-6 tonnes, with cleanliness of paramount importance during the production process, especially with the melting and atomization of super alloys where any contamination is not permitted.
Iron powders can be melted by electric arc furnace or other bulk melting operations, scaling up to a considerably larger capacity of approximately 50 tonnes.
Molten metal temperatures prior to atomization can range from 800°C (lead/aluminium alloys) to in excess of 2000°C (primarily for super alloy production). Process times are typically measured in minutes but technological advances have resulted in newer machines being designed to operate on a more continuous basis of up to 24 hours.
The actual atomization or conversion of the molten metal stream to powder is achieved by the interference of the stream with a high pressure jet of air, inert gas, or water.
Anderman Industrial Ceramics manufacture atomising nozzles in the three industry recognised formulations including Yittria, Magnesia and Ceria stabilised Zirconia’s, ensuring our supplied parts meet customer requirement, and we boast an extensive customer reference list from our many years of supply into some of the world’s biggest players.