Abstract: A process for producing fine powder, which includes entraining a starting powder material in a carrier gas, injecting the starting powder material using the carrier gas into a high temperature jet to form a high velocity stream of molten droplets, fragmenting the resulting high velocity molten droplets by impacting against a substrate wherein the temperature of the substrate is above the melting point of the powder material, to form smaller droplets, and allowing the resulting fragmented smaller droplets to spheroidize and solidify in flight.

Abstract: Metallic coated particles are disclosed which comprise a core consisting essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, ceramics, ceramic glasses, and a coating relatively uniformly distributed on the core. The coating consists essentially of a relatively ductile and/or malleable metallic material selected from the group consisting of metals and metal alloys. The process for producing the coated particles involves increasing the aspect ratio of the ductile and/or malleable material, and mechanically applying it to a powder material which is to be the core of the particles.

Abstract: Apparatus for milling metal powder in a mill is disclosed which comprises a central shaft, the top of which is rotatably mounted to rotating apparatus, bottom stirrer(s), attached to the bottom edge of central shaft, upper stirrer(s), attached above the point of attachment of the bottom stirrer(s), and two or more primary stirrers, upper ends of which are attached to outer edge(s) of the upper stirrer(s) and the bottom ends attached to bottom edge(s) of the bottom stirrer(s). The bottom stirrer has a downward sloping leading edge with a first angle formed by a first plane extending along this edge to a second plane extending along the bottom of the mill, this angle being 10.degree. to 90.degree., the first angle being that between those faces of the first and second planes within which the bottom stirrer sits.

Abstract: Metallic coated particles are disclosed which comprise a core consisting essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, ceramics, ceramic glasses, and a coating relatively uniformly distributed on the core. The coating consists essentially of a relatively ductile and/or malleable metallic material selected from the group consisting of metals and metal alloys. The process for producing the coated particles involves increasing the aspect ratio of the ductile and/or malleable material, and mechanically applying it to a powder material which is to be the core of the particles.

Abstract: Powder particles and a process for producing the particles are disclosed. The particles are of a ductile and/or malleable material which can be metal, metal alloy, or metal-ceramic composites having a substantially granular appearance and an aspect ratio of from greater than 1 to about 50 and a mean particle size of less than about 20 micrometers in diameter. The process involves grinding the above described material with the grinding media being placed in a mill so that the media are in close proximity to one another to produce a densely packed state which results in the above described powder particles being produced.