EP3083107

• Nanoval GmbH & Co. KGsince Sep 23, 2016

The invention relates to a device (1) for melting a material without a crucible and for atomizing the melted material in order to produce powder, comprising: an atomizing nozzle (5); an induction coil (4) having windings (4a-d), which become narrower in the direction of the atomizing nozzle (5) at least in some sections; and a material bar (3) at least partially inserted into the induction coil (4). The induction coil (4) is designed to melt the material of the material bar (3) in order to produce a melt flow (16). The induction coil (4) and the atomizing nozzle (5) are arranged in such a way that the melt flow (16) is or can be introduced into the atomizing nozzle (5) through a first opening (20) of the atomizing nozzle (5) in order to atomize the melt flow (16) by means of an atomizing gas (19), which can be introduced into the atomizing nozzle (5). The device is characterized in that the atomizing nozzle (5) is designed in such a way that the atomizing gas (19) can be or is introduced into the atomizing nozzle (5) only through said first opening (20) of the atomizing nozzle (5); that the atomizing nozzle (5) is designed to accelerate the atomizing gas (19) at least up to the speed of sound of the atomizing gas (19) in a direction parallel to the melt flow (16); and that the material bar (3) and the induction coil (4) are arranged in such a way that the melt flow (16) can be or is inductively heated by the induction coil (4) before the melt flow (16) enters the atomizing nozzle (5). The invention further relates to a corresponding method for melting a material without a crucible and for atomizing the melted material in order to produce powder.

From the international application WO2015092008