Metal manufacturer Fomas Group is proud to announce that its subsidiary, Mimete, has started production of metal powders.
Mimete, located in Biassono, Italy, has reportedly used vacuum inert gas atomization (VIGA) to successfully roll out the first batch of powders.
The VIGA process is monitored through an advanced production management system and involves metal droplets turning into solid powder through an interaction with high pressure argon in an atomization tower. The powder is then collected in a canister and prepared for post processing activities. The alloy chosen for the first production was 316L and currently production of In625 and F75 is ongoing, according to the company.
‘The scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the powder’s morphology was spherical, homogeneous and the flowability measured fulfilled our targets entirely,’ the company said in a press release. ‘This achievement is the key milestone towards becoming an important player in the world of metal powders.’
‘We were all very excited to be together for the first atomization,’ said Maria Guzzoni, Mimete strategy & special projects coordinator. ‘It was not about scoring the best result, but it was more about getting to the end of the cycle – the starting point for future challenges and improvements. We studied a lot and we were well prepared for all scenarios, but we were aware that moving from theory to reality always implies a certain level of uncertainty. We were incredibly moved to finally see the successful results of all the hard work and the commitment we went through last year.’
This story uses material from Fomas Group, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
