Screening metal powders can be a difficult process using standard vibratory screeners.
Blinding is major problem when screening metal powders due to the tendency to first coat and then plug the screen openings. The density of powdered metals is extremely high and conventional screeners do not have the energy needed to prevent this blinding.
Elcan Industries has systems that transfer an extremely high amount of energy to the screen that the particles never have time to settle and block the hole opening. Instead of vibrating the body of the screening machine, we send unique energies directly into the cloth from underneath. This breaks up agglomerations and stratifies the material across the entire surface. For products that are statically bound, we have measures that remove all static from the screening surface.
Powdered metals may have varying particle shapes which can lead to particles having problems finding the screen openings. Elcan has developed a series of techniques to deal with hook shaped and angular particles. We can remove these unwanted particles from the product stream. Agglomeration of particles can cause the appearance of oversize material that is actually fines bound together. The high energy of our sifters blow agglomerates apart and allows the individual particles to efficiently pass through the mesh opening.
Elcan’s high energy machines are also used in our unique toll processing facility were we handle different types of metal powders every day. The screening technologies that Elcan has helped develop have the capabilities to screen metal powders that others cannot with ease. We have the ability to screen metal powders from sizes as big as 10mm down to sizes as small as 10 micron!
For high value metal powders like silver, titanium or gold, our Hi-Sifter is the only machine capable of making 20 micron cuts without any risk of outside contamination. The entire contact area is highly polished stainless steel. The large rectangular Rhewum screeners have the ability to produce tonnage of efficiently cut product.
There is a long track record of success with metal powders at Elcan. We have screened over 5 million pounds of aluminum powder at 325 and 500 mesh! Elcan is currently assisting metal powder producers in the additive manufacturing industry to remove fines as small as 10 microns. We screen nickel powder, tungsten, titanium, cobalt chrome and many others through our machines at rates and efficiencies that cannot be matched. No matter what powdered metal you are producing, it is likely that we have successfully screened it at our facility.
Our advanced toll processing facility offers clients the opportunity to test and develop new product without the same capital commitment associated with purchasing machinery. Our facility has 8 full scale bays dedicated to toll processing and manufacturing and only Elcan has the technical experience and know how to get jobs done quickly and efficiently. The massive facility can handle orders from 100lbs to up over one million pounds of product! Whether it be screening, air classifying, mixing/blending, packaging and repackaging, magnetic separation or anything else you may need done, Elcan has the solution.
Call today to find out how we can help!
