Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element having a plurality of element electrodes and a ball electrode electrically connected to at least one element electrode out of the plurality of element electrodes. The ball electrode is made of a Sn—Zn-based lead-free solder including 7 through 9.5 wt % of zinc and the remaining of tin.

Abstract: A process of making metal nanoparticles comprising the steps of: providing a precursor composition comprising at least one metallic compound and at least one organic compound; wherein the organic compound is selected from the group consisting of an ethynyl compound, a metal-ethynyl complex, and combinations thereof, wherein the precursor composition is a liquid or solid at room temperature; and heating the precursor composition under conditions effective to produce metal nanoparticles. A metal nanoparticle composition comprising metal nanoparticles dispersed homogenously in a matrix selected from the group consisting of ethynyl polymer, crosslinked ethynyl polymer, amorphous carbon, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanoparticles, graphite, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method for the production of a robust, chemically stable, crystalline, passivated nanoparticle and composition containing the same, that emit light with high efficiencies and size-tunable and excitation energy tunable color. The methods include the thermal degradation of a precursor molecule in the presence of a capping agent at high temperature and elevated pressure. A particular composition prepared by the methods is a passivated silicon nanoparticle composition displaying discrete optical transitions.

Abstract: A niobium primary powder having an average particle size of 0.01 to 0.5 ?m and an average circular degree of 0.8 or more, the circular degree being defined by 4 ?A/L2 (wherein A is an area of a solid projected on a plain face and L is an outer circumferential length of the projection view); a niobium primary agglomerated powder having an average particle size of 0.03 to 20 ?m, which is an agglomerate of the niobium primary powder; a niobium secondary agglomerated powder having an average particle size of 50 to 150 ?m, which is obtained by granulating the primary agglomerated powder; a sintered body of the niobium primary agglomerated powder or niobium secondary agglomerated powder; and a capacitor using the sintered body. By using sintered bodies of the niobium primary agglomerated powder or niobium secondary agglomerated powder, a capacitor having a large capacitance per unit volume and good voltage resistance can be manufactured.

Abstract: The present invention provides water atomized copper powder comprising substantially irregular shaped copper particles having at least a median D50 particle size of from about 10 ?m to about 50 ?m. The powders of the present invention are suitable for use in electrically conductive compositions, such as copper-based adhesives. The present invention also provides methods of making these copper powders.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooling roll which can provide bonded a magnet having excellent magnetic properties and having excellent reliability. A melt spinning apparatus is provided with a tube 2 having a nozzle 3 at the bottom thereof, a coil 4 for heating the tube and cooling roll 5 having a circumferential surface 53 in which dimple correcting means is provided. A melt spun ribbon 8 is formed by injecting the molten alloy 6 from the nozzle 3 so as to be collided with the circumferential surface 53 of the cooling roll 5 in an inert gas atmosphere (ambient gas) such as helium gas, so that the molten alloy 6 is cooled and then solidified. In this process, dimples to be produced on a roll contact surface of the melt spun ribbon are divided by the dimple correcting means, thereby preventing formation of huge dimples.

Abstract: An alloy powder containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 14 elements exclusive of C and the Group 13 elements exclusive of Tl is subjected to a mechanical milling treatment, to obtain a negative electrode active material. Alternately, a raw material including a powder containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 14 elements exclusive of C and the Group 13 elements exclusive of Tl is subjected to a mechanical alloying treatment at a reaction temperature of below 90° C., to obtain a negative electrode active material.

Abstract: A method of forming a powder metal fractured bearing component, such as a connecting rod, includes the step of forming a component blank having a bearing aperture for separation of the component blank into a main body and a bearing cap, wherein the component has a hardness in the range of about HRC 22 to about HRC 34. The method also includes the steps of forming a stress riser in the blank where the fracture is to occur, and fracturing the component blank of the connecting rod into a main body and a bearing cap by applying tensile force thereto, in order to form a surface area ratio of >113% on the mating surfaces of the main body and the bearing cap.

Abstract: A metal injection-molding feedstock is heated and plasticized. Supercritical carbon dioxide is injected into the feedstock to form micropores when the pressure is reduced and a parts mold is filled. The micropores are retained when the green parts are debindered and sintered.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooling roll which can provide bonded a magnet having excellent magnetic properties and having excellent reliability. A melt spinning apparatus is provided with a tube 2 having a nozzle 3 at the bottom thereof, a coil 4 for heating the tube and cooling roll 5 having a circumferential surface 53 in which dimple correcting means is provided. A melt spun ribbon 8 is formed by injecting the molten alloy 6 from the nozzle 3 so as to be collided with the circumferential surface 53 of the cooling roll 5 in an inert gas atmosphere (ambient gas) such as helium gas, so that the molten alloy 6 is cooled and then solidified. In this process, dimples to be produced on a roll contact surface of the melt spun ribbon are divided by the dimple correcting means, thereby preventing formation of huge dimples.

Abstract: By adding a slight amount component to a niobium powder, the leakage current of a solid electrolytic capacitor is reduced and the capacitance thereof is improved, and thereby a solid electrolytic capacitor large in the capacitance and small dielectric loss tangent is manufactured. Specific resolution means are as follows. With a niobium powder that contains 1 ppm or more and 600 ppm or less of hydrogen; 1 ppm or more and 200 ppm or less of carbon; or 1 ppm or more and 50 ppm or less of nickel, and the balance substantially made of niobium as a raw material, a sintered body thereof is formed as an anode in a solid electrolytic capacitor 10.

Abstract: A powder for capacitors, which contains 0.01 to 15 atom % of zirconium and mainly comprises niobium and/or tantalum having an average particle size of from 0.2 to 5 &mgr;m; a sintered body thereof; an a capacitor fabricated from the sintered body as one part electrode, a dielectric material formed on the surface of the sintered body, and another part electrode provided on the dielectric material. A capacitor manufactured from the sintered body of a powder for capacitors of the present invention have a large capacitance per unit mass and good leakage current characteristics.

Abstract: An electrolyte capacitor containing a niobium anode, a niobium oxide barrier layer, a semiconducting cathode and an electrolyte is described, where the niobium oxide barrier comprises a least one metal from the group consisting of Al, Si, Ti, Zr, Mo, W, Y and Ta.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing Ni—Al alloy powders for electrode materials of fuel cells, in which, using aluminum chloride (AlCl3) as a catalyst, powders of Ni and Al, that have been used as electrode materials, are chemically reacted with each other to diffuse the Al into the Ni powders, so that Ni—Al alloy powders can be manufactured at a low temperature below fusion points of Ni and Al while maintaining a shape and a size of the existing Ni powders as they are, thus providing a manufacturing process of Ni—Al alloy powders that is simple, economical, compatible in working, and ready for scale-up, and in which a conventional manufacturing process of electrode based on Ni is used as it is, so that large sized electrode is manufactured.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to enhance the reliability of the electrical connection of a silver-based conductor film on the surface of a glass ceramic board. In order to achieve the object, according to the present invention, by the use of a conductor paste containing a silver particle having a specific surface area of 0.3 m2/g to 3.0 m2/g and no glass, printing is carried out on a glass ceramic board and the conductor paste is fired at a firing temperature having a difference of ±50° C. from a softening temperature of amorphous borosilicate glass contained in the glass ceramic. Consequently, a silver-based conductor film having high reliability of the electrical connection is formed on the ceramic board.

Abstract: The invention provides platinum or platinum alloy powders for use in fuel cells and for chemical reactions. The powders are characterized by a high surface area and, at the same time, low chlorine contents. The powders are prepared by forming a melt which contains, as starting substances, a low melting mixture of alkali metal nitrates, a chlorine-free platinum compound and optionally chlorine-free compounds of alloying elements, the melt is then heated to a reaction temperature at which the platinum compound and the compounds of alloying elements thermally decompose to give oxides, the melt is then cooled and dissolved in water and the oxides or mixed oxides formed are converted into platinum or platinum alloy powders by subsequent reduction. Binary or ternary eutectic mixtures from the LiNO3—KNO3—NaNO3 system are suitable as a low melting mixture of nitrates of the alkali metals. Hexahydroxoplatinic-(IV)-acid is preferably used as a chlorine-free platinum compound.

Abstract: Metal powders for surface coating are disclosed. The metal powders comprise molybdenum diffusion alloyed to the base powder particles. Metal powders comprising a prealloyed powder and a molybdenum source are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are non-magnetic nickel powders and a method for preparing the same. The nickel powders have non-magnetic property and a HCP crystal structure. The method include (a) dispersing nickel powders with a FCC crystal structure in an organic solvent to prepare a starting material dispersion, and (b) heating the starting material dispersion to transform the nickel powders with the FCC crystal structure to the nickel powders with the HCP crystal structure. The nickel powders do not exhibit magnetic agglomeration phenomenon. Therefore, the pastes for inner electrode formation in various electronic devices, which contain the nickel powders of the present invention, can keep the well-dispersed state. Also, inner electrodes made of the nickel powders can have a low impedance value even at high frequency band.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved metallurgical powder compositions that incorporate solid lubricants, methods for preparing and using the same, and methods of making compacted parts. Ejection properties, such as stripping pressure and sliding pressure, of compacted parts can be improved by using the solid lubricants. The solid lubricants contain functionalized polyalkylene lubricants have the formula: R1—Q—R2 where Q is a linear or branched, polyalkylene containing from about 10 to about 200 carbon atoms, and R1 and R2 are each independently a hydroxyl group, a carboxylic acid group or a metal salt thereof, an amine group, a mono- or di-C1 to C25 alkyl substituted amine group, or an alkylene oxide group having the formula: —[(CH2)qO]nH where q is from about 1 to about 7, n is from about 1 to about 100.

Abstract: Electrochemical and thermal hydrogen storage alloy compositions that provide superior performance, including an electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy that provides superior low temperature discharge characteristics. The alloy compositions include microstructures in the interface region that are highly porous and that include catalytic metallic particles. The microstructures include a large volume fraction of voids having spherical or channel-like shapes and are sufficiently open structurally to facilitate greater mobility of reactive species within the microstructure and in the vicinity of catalytic metallic particles. Greater accessibility to reactive sites accordingly results. The greater mobility of reactive species and/or the greater density of catalytic particles lead to faster kinetics and improved performance (e.g. higher power), especially at low operating temperatures.

Abstract: The invention relates to zinc powders or zinc alloy powders with an inhomogeneous bulk density distribution depending on the particle size, wherein the difference of the bulk density measured according to ASTM B212 in the particle size range smaller than 75 &mgr;m and that in the particle size range greater than 150 &mgr;m is at least 0.5 g/cm3, and the mean bulk density of the powder, measured according to ASTM B212, ranges from 1.8 to 4.0 g/cm3. The invention is also directed to mixtures of said zinc powders or zinc alloy powders and to an alkaline battery including said powders.

Abstract: A sintered steel and a method for the manufacture thereof are described, the sintered steel being made by a method comprising the steps of providing a first pre-alloyed steel powder having a composition comprising in weight %: C 0.5-2, Cr 3.5-6, (2 Mo+W) 12-22, V 0.5-5, Co 0-12, Mn 0.1-0.5, Si 0.1-0.6, Fe balance apart from incidental impurities; providing a second pre-alloyed steel powder having a composition comprising in weight %: C 0.3-0.7, Cr 3-5.5, Mo 1-2.5, V 0.3-1.5, W 0-2, Mn 0.1-0.6, Si 0.8-1.2. Fe balance apart from incidental impurities; mixing together from 2 to 50 weight % of the first pre-alloyed steel powder with 98 to 50 weight % of the second pre-alloyed steel powder optionally up to 60 weight % of an iron powder and with carbon powder such that the final carbon content of the matrix of the sintered steel powder is a maximum of 1.1 weight %1; compacting the mixture and sintering to form the sintered steel.

Abstract: A niobium hydride or niobium hydride alloy is ground at a temperature of −200 to 30° C. in the presence of a dispersion medium to obtain a niobium powder for capacitors, having a low oxygen content, the niobium powder for capacitors is granulated to obtain a niobium granulated product for capacitors, having an average particle size of 10 to 500 &mgr;m, the niobium powder or granulated powder for capacitors is sintered to obtain a sintered body, and a capacitor is fabricated by forming a dielectric material on the surface of the sintered body and providing another part electrode on the dielectric material, whereby a capacitor having good LC characteristics and less dispersed in the LC characteristics is obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the precipitation of nickel from an aqueous solution containing its sulphate as a metallic powder suitable as an alloying element for refined steel. In this method, nickel reduction takes place continuously in one or several autoclaves at a temperature of 80-180 ° C. and hydrogen pressure of 1-20 bar, whereby the production capacity can be raised significantly, compared to batch processes made in correspondingly dimensioned devices or equipment.

Abstract: A powder for metal injection molding of has a silicon content of less than 0.1%. Silica inclusions are substantially eliminated in the finished molded product.

Abstract: A method for forming dendritic metal powders, comprising the steps of: (1) heating a powder comprising non-dendritic particles, under conditions suitable for initial stage sintering, to form a lightly sintered material; and (2) breaking the lightly sintered material to form a powder comprising dendritic particles. In one embodiment, the lightly sintered material is broken by brushing the material through a screen. Another aspect of the present invention comprises the dendritic particles that are produced by the method described above. These particles can comprise any suitable metal, such as transition metals, rare earth metals, main group metals or metalloids or an alloy of two or more such metals. The particles can also comprise a ceramic material, such as a metal oxide. These particles are characterized by a dendritic, highly anisotropic, morphology arising from the fusion of substantially non-dendritic particles, and by a low apparent density relative to the substantially non-dendritic starting material.

Abstract: A Mo source powder is added to and mixed with an iron-based powder containing 1.0% by mass or less of prealloyed Mn to yield a powder mixture containing 0.2 to 10.0% by mass of Mo, the resulting powder mixture is subjected to heat treatment in a reducing atmosphere to thereby yield an alloyed steel powder containing Mo as a powder partially diffused and bonded to a surface of the iron-based powder particles. The prepared alloyed steel powder for powder metallurgy has satisfactory compactability. The use of this alloyed steel powder can produce a sintered powder metal body (an intermediate material after compaction and preliminary sintering in re-compaction of sintered powder materials process) for highly strong sintered member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nanostructured metal powder and a method of fabricating the same. A twin-wire electric arc process is performed to melt the wire tips, and metal melt is formed. Simultaneously, the metal melt is broken up into melt droplets by an atomizing device. The operating temperature of the electric arc process is controlled between melting point and boiling point of the wire, to avoid vaporization of the melt droplets. Then, a fast cooling is performed to quench the melt droplets. Thus, melt droplets are solidified to &mgr;m-scaled, spherical and dense powders comprising nano-grains (d<100 nm).

Abstract: Subjects for the invention are to provide fine metal particles which have surface resistance as low as about 102 to 104 &OHgr;/▭, are excellent in antistatic properties, anti-reflection properties, and electromagnetic shielding properties, and are suitable for use in forming a transparent conductive coating film excellent in reliability and durability, and to provide a process for producing the fine metal particles.

Abstract: Nanoparticles of intermetallic alloys such as FeAl, Fe3Al, NiAl, TiAl and FeCoV exhibit a wide variety of interesting structural, magnetic, catalytic, resistive and electronic, and bar coding applications. The nanosized powders can be used to make structural parts having enhanced mechanical properties, magnetic parts having enhanced magnetic saturation, catalyst materials having enhanced catalytic activity, thick film circuit elements having enhanced resolution, and screen printed images such as magnetic bar codes having enhanced magnetic properties. In contrast to bulk FeAl materials which are nonmagnetic at room temperature, the FeAl nanoparticles exhibit magnetic properties at room temperature.

Abstract: A method of controlling the size and morphology of powder made by the subsurface injection of a halide vapor into a liquid metal is disclosed. A reaction zone is established and the temperature thereof or the time the powder remains therein is controlled to change powder characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed are metal alloy particles containing substantially no lead, each exhibiting a plurality of different melting points including an original lowest melting point (a) and a highest melting point, wherein each of the metal alloy particles exhibits the original lowest melting point (a) at least at a surface portion thereof, and wherein, when each metal alloy particle is heated at a temperature equal to or higher than the original lowest melting point (a) to melt at least a surface portion of each metal alloy particle, followed by cooling to room temperature to thereby solidify the melted portion of each metal alloy particle, the resultant solid metal alloy particle having experienced the melting and solidification exhibits an elevated lowest melting point (a′) higher than the original lowest melting point (a).

Abstract: A soft magnetism metal powder having a majority of particles, each of which, when cross-sectioned, has no greater than ten crystal particles on average, may be coated on an outer surface of each of the particles with a resistive material having a higher resistivity than the underlying parent phase. The soft magnetism metal powder may be prepared by heating a soft magnetism metal powder to a high temperature in a high temperature atmosphere, thereby reducing the number of crystal particles in each of the soft magnetism metal powder particles. A soft magnetism metal formed body may be prepared by pressing the soft magnetism metal particles at a sufficient temperature and pressure.

Abstract: Improved hydrogen storage materials are disclosed. A first material comprises a hydrogen storage nanomaterial that contains nanoparticles or nanoparticle clusters of a metal that is capable of combining with hydrogen to form a metal hydride. The nanomaterials may be formed using a thermal spray process. A second material comprises a micro-sized support that contains a hydrogen storage material deposited thereon. The hydrogen storage material may comprise a thermal spray deposit formed on a fly ash particle. A third material comprises a hydrogen permeable container having a hydrogen storage material therein. The container may comprise a microparticle having an internal void (e.g., a fly ash cenosphere or glass microsphere) containing a hydrogen storage material that has been permeated therein. Alternatively, the container may comprise an enclosing layer formed over a hydrogen storage material.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide metal powder capable of decomposing and remedying various range of organic halogen compounds including organic halogen compounds which are difficult to be decomposed by a conventional decomposition and remediation method. Metal powder for decomposition of organic halogen is prepared in such a manner that the metal powder contains at least two kinds or more of metal elements, the respective metal elements forming phases, the respective metal elements therein serving as major constituents thereof, wherein difference in standard oxidation-reduction electric potential between any two kinds among the above-described metal elements is 778 mV or more in absolute value.

Abstract: A niobium powder is described which when formed into an electrolytic capacitor anode, the anode has the capacitance of at least 62,000 CV/g. Methods of making flaked niobium powder which have high capacitance capability when formed into electrolytic capacitor anodes is also described. Besides niobium, the present invention is also applicable to other metals, including valve metals.

Abstract: A material has a mass of powder particles. The mass of powder particles includes controlled binary macrosegregated powder particles made of at least two constituent elements. Each controlled binary macrosegregated powder particle has a chemically binary structure wherein the chemical composition varies from one side to the other side of the powder particle. The controlled binary macrosegregated powder particles may be used in applications which conventionally employ homogeneous powder particles, such as paints, solar cells, and the like. A paint uses as its pigment the controlled binary macrosegregated powder particles whose compositions are within the chemical system Zn(Al,Ga)2O4, and an inorganic or organic binder. The controlled binary macrosegregated powder particles are made by chemical synthesis at temperatures below those conventionally used to prepare homogeneous particles.

Abstract: A metal powder produced by a process which comprises directing at least three successive gas beams at a molten metal stream inside an atomization chamber, the at least three gas beams being oriented in different directions. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A solder paste for fabricating bumps includes a flux and metallic alloy powder. The metallic alloy powder includes a plurality of low eutectic metallic alloy granules, and the size of these metallic alloy granules is 20-60 &mgr;m and the average size of the metallic granules is 35 &mgr;m to 45 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a composite material for use in recovery of radionuclides, metals, and halogenated hydrocarbons from aqueous media. The material has very high surface area, and includes nanometer sized, zero-valent iron on a support. The material can be used to remediate aqueous media which have contaminants such as radionuclides, metals and halogenated hydrocarbons from aqueous media.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved metallurgical powder compositions that incorporate solid lubricants, methods for preparing and using the same, and methods of making compacted parts. Ejection properties, such as stripping pressure and sliding pressure, of compacted parts can be improved by using the solid lubricants. The solid lubricants contain polyalkylene-polyalkylene oxide block copolymer lubricants or a combination of polyalkylene-polyalkylene oxide block copolymer lubricants and at least one additional lubricant. The polyalkylene-polyalkylene oxide block copolymer lubricants include at least one block A of a linear or branched polyalkylene chain having from about 5 to about 500 carbon atoms, and at least one block B of an alkylene oxide chain having a formula —[O(CH2)r]m—, or —[(CH2)rO]m—. The polyalkylene block copolymer lubricants can have a formula represented as A-B or A-B-A.

Abstract: The tantalum powder for capacitors of the present invention has a specific surface area SB as determined by the BET method of 1.3 m2/g or more, and an SB/SF ratio between the specific surface area SB as determined by the BET method and the specific surface area SF determined by the FSS method of 4 to 10. This tantalum powder not only has a large specific surface area SB, but also has suitable cohesive strength and uniform porosity. Consequently, a solid state electrolytic capacitor having high capacitance and low ESR can be obtained by providing with a capacitor anode formed from a sintered body of this tantalum powder. In addition, whether or not this tantalum powder is suitable for the production of a tantalum capacitor having high capacitance and low ESR can be determined easily and reliably by evaluating the tantalum powder using the specific surface area SB as determined by the BET method and the SB/SF ratio between SB and the specific surface area SF determined by the FSS method.

Abstract: Provided are silver-containing powders and a method and apparatus for manufacturing the silver-containing particles of high quality, of a small size and narrow size distribution. An aerosol is generated from liquid feed and sent to a furnace, where liquid in droplets in the aerosol is vaporized to permit formation of the desired particles, which are then collected in a particle collector. The aerosol generation involves preparation of a high quality aerosol, with a narrow droplet size distribution, with close control over droplet size and with a high droplet loading suitable for commercial applications.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a niobium sintered body free of reduction in the CV value, a niobium powder for use in the manufacture of the niobium sintered body, and a capacitor using the niobium sintered body. A niobium powder of the present invention has niobium and tantalum, where the tantalum is present in an amount at most of about 700 ppm by mass. A sintered body and a capacitor each is manufactured using the niobium powder.

Abstract: Molding compositions and forming processes for normally rust-prone iron-based powders, and articles produced therefrom. Metal alloy systems that can be successfully formed using the processes of the invention, include elemental iron and iron alloys including low and medium alloy steels, tool steels and a number of specialty iron-base alloys.

Abstract: Nitrided valve metals are described, such as nitrided tantalum and nitrided niobium. The nitrided valve metals preferably have improved flow properties, higher Scott Densities, and/or improved pore size distribution which leads to improved physical properties of the valve metal and improved electrical properties once the valve metal is formed into a capacitor anode. Processes for preparing a nitrided valve metal are further described and involve nitriding the valve metal at a sufficient temperature and pressure during a heat treatment that is prior to the deoxidation step. Capacitor anodes and other products incorporating the valve metals of the present invention are further described.

Abstract: A fine flaky copper powder having an average major axis diameter of 4 to 10 &mgr;m and a flakiness of 2 to 20, has a bulk density of 2 to 4 g/cm3 and a BET specific surface area of 0.4 to 1.5 m2/g; A process for producing the copper powder includes introducing a copper slurry into a medium type agitation mill and flattening the powder.

Abstract: Process for producing a valve metal powder by producing a precursor of desired morphology, converting the precursor into an oxide of the valve metal, stabilizing the structure of the oxide by heat treatment and reducing the stabilized oxide while retaining the morphology. Valve metal powders obtainable in this way, in particular comprising spherical agglomerates with a mean agglomerate size of 10-80 &mgr;m, preferably 20-40 &mgr;m, and use of these valve metal powders to produce solid electrolyte capacitors.

Abstract: Electrocatalyst powders and methods for producing electrocatalyst powders, such as carbon composite electrocatalyst powders. The powders have a well-controlled microstructure and morphology. The method includes forming the particles from an aerosol of precursors by heating the aerosol to a relatively low temperature, such as not greater than about 400° C.

Abstract: In a solder that realizes high-temperature-side solder bonding in temperature-hierarchical bonding, a connection portion between a semiconductor device and a substrate is formed of metal balls made of Cu or the like and compounds formed of metal balls and Sn, and the metal balls are bonded together by the compounds.