Investigation of centrifugal atomization technology of high fluidity aluminium alloy powder for additive manufacturing

Abstract:

An experimental device for centrifugal atomization of rotating disk was developed independently, then, high fluidity aluminium alloy powder for additive manufacturing were produced by the self-developed experimental device, and the better shape of the atomized disk was obtained by experimental study. The properties of aluminum alloy powder produced by centrifugal atomization and the physical properties of 3D printed parts were tested. Results show that the powder made by centrifugal atomization is high fluidity, narrow size distribution, good spherical, high apparent density, no hollow powder and the surface is smooth without satellite powder, etc. Moreover, the 3D printing sample of centrifugal atomization powder has more uniform laser cladding coating and less hole defects, and its density and mechanical properties are significantly better than those of gas atomization powder, especially, tensile strength and yield strength of 3D printing sample reaches 495MPa and 320 MPa, which is nearly 10% higher than that of gas atomization powder.