Spherical Powders Enable New Applications for Metals
Image courtesy of Mike Zach, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This electron microscope image shows spherical bismuth powder. Each particle in the photo is about the diameter of a human hair (approximately 60 micrometers).
A newly developed process transforms large, irregular chunks of metal elements into uniform spherical particles that act like tiny ball bearings rolling past one another. This allows solid metals to be handled like liquids.
Supported by the Department of Energy Isotope Program, this research was pursued to optimize the fabrication of targets for isotope production. The AMAZEMET rePowder® ultrasonic metal atomization process works equally well for most metallic elements and their alloys, opening possibilities for a variety of applications beyond isotope production targets.
