Review on Plasma Atomizer Technology for Metal Powder

The application of plasma process is growing field covering a wide range of activities, from welding technology, coating technology, deposition technology, manufacturing technology of metal powder, and other important engineering technology. The manufacture of metal powders can be generated from the process of gas atomization, water atomization, plasma atomization, and plasma rotating electrodes process atomization. In the process of plasma atomization provides advantages in addition to producing round powder, it is also very potential for efficient processing and recycling of used and alloy materials, thus saving fuel and essential materials. These operations will have a continuing impact on our industrial society as a whole. The industry of future metal powder manufacturers that utilize plasma atomization technology is an investment strategy that has a great opportunity to grow rapidly. A variety of plasma processes for the manufacture of metal powders will be reviewed in this paper, among others, are plasma atomization and plasma rotating electrodes process atomization. They are all potentially able to control and to produce of metal powders of spherical particles, making it very profitable on powder technology applications. The purpose of this review is to summarize and provide future research for activities in the field of metal powders by plasma atomization processes. The emphasis on plasma engineering technology future research in powder making available for exploration and research needs to be met so that these future research can be realized. Finally, the future challenges of automation from the use of plasma atomization technology for additives manufacturing, powder welding and medical manufacturing.