Digitalisation of atomisation of metal powders

Research Project, 2021 – 2022

Purpose and goal: To make metal parts by additive manufacturing (AM, 3D-printing), one starts with metal powders that are a particular size and shape. Most powders for AM are made by "gas atomisation", where liquid metal is broken into droplets by fast-moving gas.
This is a complex process that can be difficult to control. DigitAtom aims to bring together academic and industrial partners to understand what capabilities there are in Sweden to model the process and what work needs to be done to build a good model. This will give us the tool we need to make the production of metal powders efficient and sustainable. Expected results and effects: At the end of project DigitAtom, there will be a clear picture of what capabilities already exist in Sweden to model the process of gas atomisation and what further development is required. For each area of further development, the project will work to identify ways in which the area could be modelled and create a team to work on their development and future funding proposals in the area. As far as possible, all existing modelling expertise will be brought together to get as close as possible to a complete computerised model of the process: a "digital twin".