Apparatus and method of manufacturing metallic or inorganic strands having a thickness in the micron range by melt spinning

摘要

Apparatus for producing elongate strands of metal comprises a rotatable wheel having a circumferential surface, at least one nozzle for directing a molten metal onto the circumferential surface and a collection means for collecting solidified strands of metal formed. The solidified strands are formed on the circumferential surface from the molten metal and are separated from the circumferential surface by centrifugal force generated by rotation of the wheel. The apparatus is characterized in that the circumferential surface has a circumferentially extending structure having circumferentially extending edges and recesses formed between or bounded by the edges, and by an apparatus for controlling a gas pressure 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 and a wheel adapted for use in the apparatus are also claimed.