Novel approach for the production of spherical powders of titanium alloys by the arc atomization method

There is an actual problem to develop a method of the production of spherical titanium alloys powders with predetermined properties. Solution of this problem would facilitate the early introduction of additive technologies into practical application. Modern additive methods allow to obtain products with complex geometry, which can not be achieved by using traditional methods of creating and processing products. The most promising materials for additive technologies are spherical titanium alloys powders, which have high mechanical properties and are heat- and corrosion-resistant as well. In this work spherical titanium alloys powders were produced by modified arc atomization method. Ti-Nb-Ta-Zr wire was applied. It was found that this method allows to control the powder’s particle size. The powder’s particle size significantly decreases by increasing the plasma power. The powders were pre-sieved to a size distribution from 40 to 150 µm and then studied by scanning electron microscopy, XRD and carrier gas hot extraction for oxygen and nitrogen determination.