- Email: [email protected]
Sherritt introduces ultrafine powders
FOCUS
ON
CANADA
Sherritt introduces ultrafine powders Nickel and cobalt powders produced at Sherritt's refinery in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, are used in a great variety of applications, although most of the nickel is briquetted and sold for alloy production. Cobalt powder capacity was increased in 1 9 9 3 to 2 0 0 0 tonnes/year and a series of n e w nickel and cobalt powder products based on Sherritt's hydrometallurgy process have been introduced.
S
herritt Inc, formerly known as Sherritt Gordon Ltd, produces nickel and cobalt powders at its refinery in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, where over 1000 people are employed. Sherritt uses a hydrometallurgy process t h a t produces high quality powders with low impurity levels. It is highly flexible and permits the production of powders in a wide range of particle sizes, shapes, and surface morphologies. The capacity of the refinery is about 25 000 tonnes per annum of nickel powder and, following an expansion that was completed in 1993, about 2000 tonnes per annum of cobalt powder -- more than double the previous level. Most of Sherritt's nickel production is pressed into briquettes suitable for use in alloy manufacture, for example as alloy feedstock in the steel industry. Some of the nickel and cobalt are sold as powders to be dissolved to make chemicals. A significant quantity of Sherritt's nickel and cobalt powders are further processed into high value products, through the Metals division's Specialty Materials and Coinage groups. The Coinage group roll-compacts nickel powder into strip and further processes the FIGURE 1: Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Sherritt ultrafine cobalt powder (x 10 000) 7 Fisher No. 9; surface area 2.5 m21g.
strip into coinage blanks that are sold to national mints worldwide. It also electroplates nickel onto steel to produce blanks that are a low-cost alternative to other white materials like stainless steel. The coinage group also makes yellow brassplated nickel or steel blanks. Bi-colour blanks, that include an annular ring made from a metal of a second colour, have just been introduced in response to customer demand. The Specialty Materials group also fabricates metal powders to make products such as dispersion-strengthened nickel sheet, used in aircraft engines, and chromium targets for use in physical-vapourdeposition equipment. The Specialty Materials group also produces a variety of other metal powders products. Specially sized nickel powders, ranging upwards in particle size from one micron in diameter, are used in several applications, including thermal spraying and electronic circuits. A new grade of nickel powder suitable for use in welding rod coatings was introduced in late 1993. The introduction of a new grade of ultrafine nickel powder, suitable for the cutting tool market, is planned for later in 1994. Cobalt powders are also available in particle sizes ranging from one micron in diameter (Figure 1). In late 1992, Sherritt introduced an ultrafine cobalt powder that has rapidly gained a c c e p t a n c e in the manufacture of high-performance tungsten carbide cutting tools. These powders are also being evaluated by diamond cutting tool and battery manufacturers. Sherritt's hydrogen reduction powder production process can also be used to coat many types of metallic or nonmetallic core particles with nickel or cobalt. The coating can also be alloyed with other materials such as aluminium or chromium. A number of composite powders, including Ni/graphite, NiCrA1/bentonite, Ni/Al, and Ni/WTiCu, have been introduced for use in high technology applications like turbine engine clearance control seals, and thermal spray bond coats. New composite powders, as well as new composite powder production technologies, are constantly being evaluated in response to customer requests. •
Joseph M. Capus 26 MPR April 1994
0026-0657/94/$7.00 © 1994, Elsevier Science Ltd.
ON
CANADA
Sherritt introduces ultrafine powders Nickel and cobalt powders produced at Sherritt's refinery in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, are used in a great variety of applications, although most of the nickel is briquetted and sold for alloy production. Cobalt powder capacity was increased in 1 9 9 3 to 2 0 0 0 tonnes/year and a series of n e w nickel and cobalt powder products based on Sherritt's hydrometallurgy process have been introduced.
S
herritt Inc, formerly known as Sherritt Gordon Ltd, produces nickel and cobalt powders at its refinery in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, where over 1000 people are employed. Sherritt uses a hydrometallurgy process t h a t produces high quality powders with low impurity levels. It is highly flexible and permits the production of powders in a wide range of particle sizes, shapes, and surface morphologies. The capacity of the refinery is about 25 000 tonnes per annum of nickel powder and, following an expansion that was completed in 1993, about 2000 tonnes per annum of cobalt powder -- more than double the previous level. Most of Sherritt's nickel production is pressed into briquettes suitable for use in alloy manufacture, for example as alloy feedstock in the steel industry. Some of the nickel and cobalt are sold as powders to be dissolved to make chemicals. A significant quantity of Sherritt's nickel and cobalt powders are further processed into high value products, through the Metals division's Specialty Materials and Coinage groups. The Coinage group roll-compacts nickel powder into strip and further processes the FIGURE 1: Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Sherritt ultrafine cobalt powder (x 10 000) 7 Fisher No. 9; surface area 2.5 m21g.
strip into coinage blanks that are sold to national mints worldwide. It also electroplates nickel onto steel to produce blanks that are a low-cost alternative to other white materials like stainless steel. The coinage group also makes yellow brassplated nickel or steel blanks. Bi-colour blanks, that include an annular ring made from a metal of a second colour, have just been introduced in response to customer demand. The Specialty Materials group also fabricates metal powders to make products such as dispersion-strengthened nickel sheet, used in aircraft engines, and chromium targets for use in physical-vapourdeposition equipment. The Specialty Materials group also produces a variety of other metal powders products. Specially sized nickel powders, ranging upwards in particle size from one micron in diameter, are used in several applications, including thermal spraying and electronic circuits. A new grade of nickel powder suitable for use in welding rod coatings was introduced in late 1993. The introduction of a new grade of ultrafine nickel powder, suitable for the cutting tool market, is planned for later in 1994. Cobalt powders are also available in particle sizes ranging from one micron in diameter (Figure 1). In late 1992, Sherritt introduced an ultrafine cobalt powder that has rapidly gained a c c e p t a n c e in the manufacture of high-performance tungsten carbide cutting tools. These powders are also being evaluated by diamond cutting tool and battery manufacturers. Sherritt's hydrogen reduction powder production process can also be used to coat many types of metallic or nonmetallic core particles with nickel or cobalt. The coating can also be alloyed with other materials such as aluminium or chromium. A number of composite powders, including Ni/graphite, NiCrA1/bentonite, Ni/Al, and Ni/WTiCu, have been introduced for use in high technology applications like turbine engine clearance control seals, and thermal spray bond coats. New composite powders, as well as new composite powder production technologies, are constantly being evaluated in response to customer requests. •
Joseph M. Capus 26 MPR April 1994
0026-0657/94/$7.00 © 1994, Elsevier Science Ltd.