Electron Beam Rotating Disk Atomization

The details of the development of the EBRD process have been described by Pietsch et al.[187] There are two alternative operation modes in addition to the above continuous non-contact mode. The first one may be referred to as continuous contact atomization. In this mode, liquid metal contacts the bottom surface of the container instead of melt dripping, and then flows continuously from the center to the rim of the container. The second one may be termed discontinuous non-contact atomization. In this mode, the container is first filled by dripping melt while it is rotating at a very low speed of about 3 x 10-3 radians/s. The rotating speed of the container is then enhanced to about 14 radians/s while the metal or alloy is remelted and atomized. More than one focused electron beam may be used to provide energy for melting metal. 

The EBRD process has been demonstrated applicable to the atomization of a variety of reactive and refractory metals and alloys in addition to Ti alloys. The process is being further developed to utilize highly contaminated raw materials and to produce high quality powders for hot isostatic pressing application without additional treatment. 

The EBRD-atomized particles may be of spherical or flaky shape. Droplet size is less than 700 pm, but much smaller droplets, 30 to 50 pm in diameter, have also been demonstrated. Cooling rates higher than 103 °C/s are achieved in fine droplets. 

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Electron Beam Rotating Disk Atomization (EBRD) <700 Narrow size distribution Refractory, reactive metals and alloys such asTi >103 -5.5 -0.5 Relatively high EE Coarse (flaky) particles, Relatively low capacity throughput... 

Figure 3 Principle of construction of atomic absorption spectrometers. (A) Single-beam spectrometer with electrically modulated lamp radiation (B) double-beam spectrometer with reflection and splitting of the primary radiation by a rotating, partially mirrored quartz disk (chopper). 1 - radiation source, 2 -sample cell (atomizer), 3 - monochromator, 4 - detector, 5 -electronics and readout (by permission of Wiley-VCH from Welz B and Sperling M (1999) Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, 3rd, completely revised edition. Weinheim Wiley-VCH).

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