APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING METALLIC OR INORGANIC FIBERS HAVING A THICKNESS IN THE MICRON RANGE BY MELT SPINNING

An apparatus for producing elongate fibers of metal, metallic glasses or inorganic material understood a rotatable wheel having a planar external circumferential surface, which is flat in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel, at least one nozzle having a nozzle opening for directing a molten metal onto the circumferential surface and a collection means for collecting solidified fibers of metal formed on the circumferential surface from the molten metal and separated from the circumferential surface by centrifugal force generated by rotation of the wheel. The nozzle has a rectangular cross-section having a width of the nozzle opening in the circumferential direction of rotation of the wheel and a length transverse to the circumferential surface of the wheel which is greater than the width. An apparatus is provided for controlling a gas pressure applied to the liquid metal which moves the liquid metal through the nozzle opening and delivers it to the circumferential surface of the rotatable wheel. A method of producing elongate fibers is also claimed. (FR) An apparatus for producing elongated fibers of metal, metallic glasses or inorganic material includes a rotating wheel having a planar outer circumferential surface which is flat in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel, at at least one nozzle having a nozzle opening for directing a molten metal onto the circumferential surface and a collecting means for collecting the solidified metal fibers formed on the circumferential surface from the molten metal and separated from the circumferential surface by the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the wheel. The nozzle has a rectangular cross section having a width of the nozzle opening in the circumferential direction of rotation of the wheel and a length transverse to the circumferential surface of the wheel which is greater than the width. The invention also relates to an apparatus for regulating a gas pressure applied to the liquid metal which displaces the liquid metal through the nozzle opening and releases it onto the circumferential surface of the rotating wheel. A method of producing elongated fibers is also claimed.