Abstract: A metal or an alloy thereof, or a ceramic that has a liquid phase is introduced in the form of a rod or a wire or as a liquid stream into the apex formed by a plurality of converging plasma jets. Atomization takes place and upon controlled cooling good quality spheroidal powders are obtained whose size varies generally between about 10 and 300 .mu.m.

Abstract: A process is disclosed to synthesize fullerenes in a plasma reactor. It comprises introducing various amounts of carbon halides as the plasma forming gas in a plasma torch capable of producing a high enough temperature flame to dissociate the carbon bearing molecules into carbon and halogen atoms, hence forming a carbon cloud which condenses into a soot containing fullerenes. Also hydrocarbons can be introduced in the torch as the plasma forming gas and reacted with carbon halides or halogens injected therewith or directly into the plasma flame at the exit of the torch. Moreover, an inert gas, such as helium, may also be used as the plasma forming gas. The process can use a high enthalpy non-transferred d.c. plasma torch or an induction plasma torch as the plasma generating device.