Plasma spheroidization of refractory complex concentrated alloys Project ID: GA25-16631S Provider: Czech Science Foundation Period: Jan 01, 2025 - Dec 31, 2027 Recipient - coordinator Institute of Plasma Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague Principal Investigator: RNDr. František Lukáč, Ph.D. Co-recepient(s) / PI(s): Czech Technical University in Prague -- Institute of Chemical Technology Prague -- Co-investigators from IPP J. Medřický, L. Babka, M. Husák, J. Rédr, M. Vilémová, J. Klečka, J. Čížek, S. Lambert Aims of the project: For most additive manufacturing methods, spherical powders are desired due to their good flowability and predictable behavior, while many powder preparation techniques (hydride-dehydride, mechanical milling) produce irregular powders. Plasma spheroidization is a state-of-the-art method for treatment of such powder resulting in spherical particles and unique microstructure due to rapid cooling rates. In the proposed project, we will prepare spherical powders of two refractory complex concentrated alloys via mechanical alloying, plasma spheroidization and in-situ dehydrogenation. Physical processes involved in each processing step will be studied. Micromechanical properties of the spherical powders will be investigated with respect to its suitability for additive manufacturing methods, namely cold-spraying, which requires the particles to be ductile prior to the deposition. Finally, microstructure and mechanical properties of the cold-sprayed parts will be thoroughly investigated and the viability of the proposed spheroidization method will be discussed.