Plasma Atomization Technology
Arcam has announced that its high quality metal powder manufacturing subsidiary, AP&C, based in Montreal, Canada, has filed two patent applications that covers high-yield production of fine powder from reactive metals with a low gas to metal ratio and low gas pressure and improved metal powder flowability.
The first strategic patent application covers the use of AP&C's proprietary technology, Plasma Atomization on different heated metal sources such as wire, rod and melt. AP&C’s technology allows high yield production of fine powder for all additive manufacturing distributions and without ceramic contamination risk.
Jacques Mallette, President of AP&C, commented: "The production yield is one of the key drivers to produce powder at low cost. The combination of high-yield of fine powder with a low gas to metal ratio of about 10 is unique to AP&C’s proprietary Plasma Atomization process."
This second strategic patent application covers a method to obtain optimal flowability of fine reactive metals powder for additive manufacturing. The patent covers all principal reactive metals powder production methods including Plasma Atomization, other Gas Atomization processes, Plasma Spheroidization and Plasma Rotating Electrode. The invention allows obtaining the highest level of flowability for all additive manufacturing powder distributions.
With over 10 years of experience, AP&C produces high quality and cost effective titanium and nickel super-alloy powders for additive manufacturing in a multi-reactor manufacturing set-up using product dedicated equipment.
