GE T
Retech: Enabling the atomisation of reactive and refractory alloys at substantially higher levels of productivity and lower cost Retech, a division of SECO/WARWICK Group, has developed a method for the gas atomisation of a wide variety of reactive and refractory alloys, amorphous metals, and superalloys. Called Plasma Gas Atomising (PGA), this technology, states the company, promises a significant increase in production rates. In this article, Retech’s Dr Aamir Abid explores the technology and its advantages for metal powder producers and considers its potential to substantially reduce the cost of metal powders for Powder Metallurgy and Additive Manufacturing applications.
As readers of this publication are well aware, Powder Metallurgy has become an increasingly popular solution for the manufacture of complex parts that would not be feasible via traditional manufacturing methods such as casting, subtractive manufacturing (machining), or forging. Historically, PM was a sensible solution only if making enough parts to justify the overhead of compaction dies. More recently, however, the advent of Additive Manufacturing (AM) has changed these economics, making many Powder Metallurgy applications a viable solution, especially for small batches and prototypes. In some instances, however, the cost of metal powder production still makes PM prohibitively expensive for all but the most high-value products. This is particularly the case for reactive and refractory metals, the class of metals requiring vacuum or inert gas atmosphere metallurgy; titanium will frequently be used here as the representative example.
© 2024 Inovar Communications Ltd
What makes titanium a fitting bellwether? It has the highest demand within this class of metals. It is emblematic of the controlled atmosphere melting industry in general. Furthermore, it has even
become something of a status symbol and a luxury signifier. Despite growing interest in titanium, the cost of producing it – including its many alloys – has stood in the way of widespread
Fig. 1 Retech plasma gas atomised refractory alloy powders (Courtesy Retech)
Spring 2024
PM Review
63
F
Retech: Plasma Gas Atomisation
PD
| contents | news | advertisers | events | website | newsletter |