Patent attributes
A metal powder production apparatus is capable of efficiently producing fine metal powder with a uniform particle size. The metal powder produced by the apparatus has an increased quality. The apparatus (atomizer) makes use of an atomizing method to pulverize molten metal into metal powder. The apparatus includes a supply part (tundish) for supplying the molten metal, a nozzle provided below the supply part, a tubular member provided between the supply part and the nozzle. The tubular member is constructed to ensure that the molten metal ejected from an ejection port passes through a bore of the tubular member and then makes contact with a fluid jet. Further, the tubular member has a top end air-tightly connected to the supply part and a bottom end lying around the midway of a first flow path through which the molten metal passes.