Gas atomization of A2 tool steel: Effect of process parameters on powders' physical properties

In this study, powders of the A2 tool steel were produced by close-coupled gas atomization using argon gas aiming their use in additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. The effects of melt overheating and gas atomization pressure on their physical properties were analyzed. The powders were separated into different particle size ranges, and a complete morphological characterization was carried out. The effect of back pressure was verified due to a substantial increase in the gas-to-melt mass flow rates ratio (GMR) with increasing gas pressure. Atomization gas pressure showed a slightly more significant influence on particle size distribution; however, the melt overheating effect was also significant. As the GMR increases, the median particle size decreases to a certain threshold. Above this, particle size cannot be considerably re-duced with increasing GMR.& COPY; 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.