Abstract: An apparatus for producing fine metal balls comprising a crucible 3 for holding a metal melt and equipped with orifices 2 for ejecting the metal melt; a vibration rod 6 for giving vibration to the melt 1 held in the crucible 3; a vibrator 4 for giving vibration to the vibration rod 6; a means 5 for transmitting the vibration of the vibrator 4 to the vibration rod 6; and a chamber 7 in which melt droplets 9 ejected through the orifices 2 are solidified while dropping, the vibration-transmitting means 5 having one end in contact with the vibrator 4 and the other end abutting a support member 11 connected to the vibration rod 6; the vibration-transmitting means 5 having a cross section decreasing as it nears the support member 11.

Abstract: A method for producing a laminated metal ribbon comprises the steps of (a) vapor-depositing a third metal layer on at least one welding surface of a first metal ribbon 4 and a second metal ribbon 5 in a vacuum chamber 1, the third metal being the same as or different from a metal or an alloy of the first and second metal ribbons 4, 5; (b) pressure-welding the first metal ribbon 4 to the second metal ribbon 5; and (c) subjecting the resultant laminate 9 to a heat treatment for thermal diffusion.

Abstract: A wiring layer transfer composite constituted by a laminate composed of a carrier layer, a barrier layer and a wiring-forming layer, the barrier layer being a continuous layer substantially free from defects, can be produced by (a) preparing a first Cu-based metal foil having an average thickness of 50 &mgr;m or less and an average surface roughness Rz of 5 &mgr;m or less in both surfaces for the carrier layer; (b) preparing a second Cu-based metal foil having an average thickness of 20 &mgr;m or less and an average surface roughness Rz of 5 &mgr;m or less in both surfaces for the wiring-forming layer; (c) vapor-depositing a metal having different etchability from that of Cu onto at least one of the first metal foil and the second metal foil to form the barrier layer having an average thickness of 1 &mgr;m or less; and (b) pressure-welding both metal foils via the barrier layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing fine metal balls comprising a crucible 3 for holding a metal melt and equipped with orifices 2 for ejecting the metal melt; a vibration rod 6 for giving vibration to the melt 1 held in the crucible 3; a vibrator 4 for giving vibration to the vibration rod 6; a means 5 for transmitting the vibration of the vibrator 4 to the vibration rod 6; and a chamber 7 in which melt droplets 9 ejected through the orifices 2 are solidified while dropping, the vibration-transmitting means 5 having one end in contact with the vibrator 4 and the other end abutting a support member 11 connected to the vibration rod 6; the vibration-transmitting means 5 having a cross section decreasing as it nears the support member 11.

Abstract: A method of refining molten metal includes the steps of reduced-pressure-refining molten metal in a heated vessel, adding slag-forming agents into the refined molten metal while keeping the molten metal in the vessel, or after pouring the molten metal into another vessel, re-refining the molten metal by heating the molten metal with inert-gas plasma and while stirring the molten metal as occasion demands. Preferably, the refining apparatus includes two adjacent chambers, each chamber isolated from the surrounding atmosphere. The chambers can be connected with, or separated from, each other and each chamber is provided with an exhaust device. One of the chambers is provided with an induction heating refining furnace, and the other chamber is provided with inert gas plasma heater. The apparatus also includes a re-refining vessel which is transferable between the two chambers, and a material feeder for feeding slag-forming agents into the re-refining vessel.

Abstract: A method of producing high-grade metal or alloy powder, improved to eliminate undesirable inclusions and to reduce the production cost. A solid electrode material made of a metal or alloy, having a composition substantially equal to the composition of aimed metal or alloy powder, is heated and molten in a vacuum chamber by application of a plasma, arc, electron beam or laser beam. The molten metal or alloy in the form of droplets fall into collision with the surface of a roll rotating at a high speed so as to be pulverized and partially solidified. The particles of the metal or alloy scattered by the roll is directed to one side of the roll and are spheroidized and solidified into fine particles before they are collected in a collecting box disposed at one side of the roll within the vacuum chamber.