Abstract:
A new method and apparatus for manufacturing powders of cemented carbide, cermets, ceramics and similar materials with good abrasive wear resistance starting from a slurry, wherein the slurry is introduced into a drop forming device including at least one essentially horizontal oriented rotating drop forming disk (12), from which the drops are slung out to solidify by centrifugal force. According to the invention the slurry is ejected from a discharge opening (21) on the drop former in the form of a jet such that it hits a first obliquely downward and inwardly directed surface (22) whereby the speed of rotation of the disk is chosen such that the jet of liquid is forced upwards over the first surface as well as over to another connected horizontal surface (23) and thereafter is ejected as a split jet against a second obliquely downwards-outwards directed surface (25) such that the slurry is accelerated to the speed of the drop forming disk (12) and then is led over a third surface (26) obliquely directed outwards, from where the drops are then caused to detach themselves and fall down, thus forming a powder.