An Approach To Evaluate Quality And Sustainability For Powders Produced By A Lab – Scale Atomizer

Sustainability in production processes is a crucial topic that ensures the responsible use of resources, minimizes environmental impact, fosters long-term viability, and aligns economic success with ecological and social well-being. Regarding powder production via gas-atomization, powder quality and powder yield represent the main aspects to be maximized in order to achieve a robust process. However, gas-atomization energy consumption varies depending on gas-atomization pressure, heating time, power, and consumable reuse. This study proposes a methodology to optimize gas-atomized powder production by reducing the equivalent carbon generated per kilogram of powder. The methodology incorporates particle size distribution, morphology, and environmental impact considerations. The article reports a comprehensive case study for super-duplex steel powders produced by a lab-scale inert gas atomizer. The purpose of the study is to present a general methodology to evaluate the sustainability of gas - atomized powder.