Influence of Melt Composition on the Formation of Powder Particles When Spraying High-Alloy Steels with High-Pressure Water

The influence of chemical composition on the formation of powder particles during the water atomization of stainless steel was investigated. The formation mechanism is proposed, according to which the form of powder particles is determined by the degree of refractoriness of the oxide film formed on the droplet surface during spraying. The effect of oxide film composition on the shape of particles and the apparent density of the resulting powder is investigated. The quantitative dependences of the apparent density on the concentrations of elements additionally injected into the melt, which can form oxide films, such as Si, Al, Ti, and B, are determined. An increase in silicon or aluminum concentration leads to a decrease in particle sphericity and apparent density. Moreover, joint doping with silicon and boron leads to particle spheroidization and an increase in the apparent density of the powder. Thus, by introducing various additives to the stainless steel melt, the shape of the resulting powder particles can be adjusted so that they can be used in various technological conversions.