Structural features of metal powders obtained by plasma spraying

The development of additive technologies in the Russian Federation is constrained by the lack of indigenous base for the production of metal powders. SPbPU has developed, manufactured and introduced a plasma atomizer. It provides atomization of metal powders and alloys of various chemical compositions. The data on the main technological parameters of atomization of nickel alloy Inconel 718 and titanium alloy Ti-6A1-4V are presented in the paper. It is shown that by optimizing the spraying mode the possibility to obtain alloy powders with a high level of sphericity and a minimum number of particles with surface and internal defects. The chemical compositions of the obtained particles are almost identical to the composition of the initial atomized materials. Samples for the mechanical testing were made from the obtained powders by the SLM method. The results of mechanical properties tests show that the properties of samples made by 3D printing methods from powders sprayed by plasma atomization methods are identical to the properties of materials made and heat-treated by traditional methods