2011 International Conference on Alternative Energy in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies
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75 microns, the weight of aluminum powder at gas
pressure 0.7 MPa is greater than the other two pressures.
According to the experiment 1, yield of aluminum powder
under 75μm was found to be 17%. As for experiment 3,
although it gave 48% of yield, it had greater particle size
than experiment 2. In experiment 2, yield of product was
lower than that of experiment 3. The yield percent of
aluminum powder is given in Table 8.
Fig.4. Particle size distribution of powders under
different gas pressure (experimental conditions: 0.5MPa,
0.6MPa, 0.7MPa)
Fig.5. Particle size distribution and cumulative fraction
(experimental conditions: 0.5MPa, 0.6MPa, 0.7MPa)
Table 8.
Yield percent of aluminum powder
Experiment
No.
Gas
pressure
(MPa)
Yield
percent
Total yield
percent
1
0.5
17
92.69
2
0.6
29
92.71
3
0.7
48
92.72
The result shows that pressure variable has a strong
influence on weight of grams. By viewing from this
experiments, it was found that yield of aluminum powder
(48%) at gas pressure (0.7MPa) is higher than other two
conditions.
4.2. Particle size distribution of aluminum powder
The shape and microstructures of the powders were
observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM)(SEM
JEOL JSL-5610). Scanning electron microscope images of
the produced powders are shown in Figs 6, 7 and 8. Most
of the powder particles are dumbelled shape or granular.
According to the Figs, the powder particles are more
granular at gas pressure 0.6 MPa than at other gas
conditions.
Fig.6. SEM micrograph of aluminum powder at gas
pressure 0.5 MPa
Fig.7. SEM micrograph of aluminum powder at gas
pressure 0.6 MPa
Fig.8. SEM micrograph of aluminum powder at gas
pressure 0.7 MPa
As can be seen that powder particle size of hybrid
atomization was obtained under 75 microns. Therefore, the
optimum atomization results depend on the gas pressure
and other processing parameters.
Particle size (microns)
Cumulative fraction
