Abstract: A method of producing a thin metal wire having a circular cross section is disclosed. The wire is produced by providing a molten metal within an extruding device having a nozzle therein. A strip of liquid coolant in motion at a speed of 200 m/min or more is then provided. The molten metal is extruded into the strip of liquid coolant in order to cool and solidify the metal and form the thin metal wire. A high quality thin metal wire is obtained by precisely adjusting the speed of the strip of liquid coolant relative to the speed of the extruded molten metal as well as the angle at which the molten metal is extruded into the liquid coolant strip. The method is capable of economically and continuously producing a high quality thin metal wire on a commercial scale. The method is effective in directly producing a thin metal wire having an amorphous, a nonequilibrium crystalline, or microcrystalline structure.

Abstract: A thin metal wire having a circular cross section is produced by a method which comprises spouting molten metal through a spinning nozzle and bringing the resultant flow of molten metal into contact with a layer of liquid cooling medium formed on a grooved conveyor belt in motion thereby quenching and solidifying the flow of molten metal. This method is capable of continuously producing a thin metal wire of high quality economically on a commercial scale. It is highly effective in directly producing a thin metal wire having an amorphous, non-equilibrium crystalline, or microcrystalline structure.