艾奥瓦雾化制粉技术公司是一家利用高科技生产钛粉的初创公司，也是在能源部主办的“美国新一代能源创新者”竞赛中脱颖而出的3家公司之一。

博士后研究员乔尔·里肯（Joel Rieken，左）和安迪·海德劳夫（Andy Heidloff）站在生产钛粉的高科技设备前。钛粉用途广泛，既是制造飞机引擎和装甲钢板的原料，也可用于制作人造髋关节和首饰。他们两人创建的艾奥瓦雾化制粉技术公司（Iowa Powder Atomization Technologies，IPAT）是在能源部主办的“美国新一代能源创新者”（America’s Next Top Energy Innovator）竞赛中脱颖而出的3家公司之一。

钛是一种硬度大、重量轻、无毒且耐腐蚀的金属。不过，使用传统的零件生产技术如浇铸法（将金属熔化后注入模具）等来加工钛，难度太大、成本太高。钛粉更便于使用，但价格昂贵。IPAT利用能源部艾姆斯实验室（Ames Laboratory）研发的气体雾化技术生产钛粉，其生产效率要比传统制粉技术高10倍。

IPAT的目标是开发出第一台用于生产精细钛粉的商用气体雾化器。这家公司在赢得能源创新竞赛后将能借助一个更精简的程序和优惠的收费标准申请专利归艾姆斯实验室所有的一些技术的使用许可。

IPAT, an Iowa startup that uses new technology to make titanium powder, was one of three winners of the Department of Energy’s “America’s Next Top Energy Innovator” challenge.

Post-doctoral researchers Joel Rieken (left) and Andy Heidloff stand in front of high-tech equipment used to make titanium powder, which can be used to manufacture everything from jet engines and armor plating to hip implants and jewelry. Their startup company, Iowa Powder Atomization Technologies (IPAT), is one of three winners of the Department of Energy’s “America’s Next Top Energy Innovator” challenge.

Titanium is strong, lightweight, nontoxic and resistant to corrosion. However, traditional part-making techniques such as casting (where metal is melted and poured into molds) are difficult and costly with titanium. The powder form of titanium is easier to work with, but expensive. IPAT uses gas atomization technology developed at the Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory to make titanium powder with processes that are 10 times more efficient than traditional powder-making methods.

IPAT aims to develop a first-of-its-kind, commercial-scale gas atomizer specifically to produce fine titanium powder. As a winner of the energy innovator challenge, the company will go through a streamlined process and pay reduced fees to license some of the technology patents held by Ames.

Read more about the America's Next Top Energy Innovator challenge.