Abstract: The invention relates a tantalum powder free of alkali and fluorine, which for a relatively small primary particle size has comparatively large secondary particles and is suitable for producing capacitors with a specific charge of between 100,000 and 180,000 &mgr;FV/g at specific residual currents of less than 2nA/&mgr;FV.

Abstract: Titanium hydride powder with a maximum particle diameter of substantially 150 &mgr;m or less, the powder with particle diameters of 10 &mgr;m or less being 8% or less by weight, which is produced via step for embrittling a titanium and titanium alloy by hydrogenation, and titanium powder with a maximum particle diameter of which is 150 &mgr;m or less, the powder with particle diameters of 10 &mgr;m or less being 5% or less by weight. In the powder the oxygen content and the chlorine content are reduced, and the flowability and compactibility are excellent. This powder is particularly suitable for a raw material to produce a sintered titanium or titanium alloy product by the powder metallurgy.

Abstract: A flaked niobium powder is disclosed as well as electrolytic capacitors formed from the flaked niobium powders. Niobium powders having a BET surface area of at least about 0.50 m.sup.2 /g are also disclosed and capacitors made therefrom, as well as niobium powders doped with an oxygen content of at least 2,000 ppm. Methods to reduce DC leakage in a niobium anode are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nickel fine powder includes 0.02 to 1.0% by weight of magnesium and/or 0.02 to 0.1% by weight of calcium dispersed in the nickel. A method for preparing the nickel fine powder includes the steps of forming nickel hydroxide by mixing an aqueous solution containing a magnesium salt and/or a calcium salt and a nickel salt with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and then reducing the hydroxide with a hydrazine reducing agent. The nickel fine powder has thermal shrinkage characteristics very close to those observed for ceramic substrates and is accordingly suitable as a material for producing an internal electrode for laminated ceramic condensers.

Abstract: A method for producing metal powder which involves the step of making an alkaline hydroxide, hydrazine or a hydrazine hydrate, and a metallic salt co-exist in a solvent comprising an alcohol, at least a portion of each being dissolved; wherein, in the step, metal powder comprising a metal contained in the metallic salt is precipitated by reducing the metallic salt with the hydrazine or the hydrazine hydrate. By the above method, a metal powder having a particle size of about 100 nm or less can be obtained and the metal powder is not contaminated with impurities originating from the reducing agent.

Abstract: The low temperature reduction of a metal oxide using mechanochemical processing techniques. The reduction reactions are induced mechanically by milling the reactants. In one embodiment of the invention, titanium oxide TiO.sub.2 is milled with CaH.sub.2 to produce TiH.sub.2. Low temperature heat treating, in the range of 400.degree. C. to 700.degree. C., can be used to remove the hydrogen in the titanium hydride.

Abstract: A method for the chemical precipitation of metallic silver powder employs a two solution technique in which a solution of a tin salt and a solution a silver salt are mixed in the presence of an inorganic or organic acid, alumina, an anionic surfactant, and a colloid to form a precipitation solution at a temperature and pH suitable to effect the chemical precipitation of silver. Almost 80% by weight of the precipitated powder agglomerate is less than 25 .mu.m in diameter, and the individual powder particles which compose the agglomerate range in size from 0.2 to 2.0 .mu.m. In addition to the favorable size distribution, silver particles precipitated in the presence of a gelatin colloid can be used with a minimal amount of sieving so that little work hardening is imparted to the particles. The powder can be annealed at a temperature of up to 750.degree. C.

Abstract: Methods for the manufacture of nanostructured metals, metal carbides, and metal alloys are presented, such metals including nanostructured aluminum, chromium, iron, molybdenum, vanadium, and steel. Preferably, the nanostructured steel is of the M50 type, and comprises iron, molybdenum, chromium, vanadium and carbon. Synthesis of M50 steel further comprising nanostructured aluminum, aluminum oxide, or aluminum nitride is also described. In accordance with an important feature of this invention, the grain size of the metals and metal alloys is in the nanometer range. In accordance with the method of the present invention, the nanostructured metals, metal carbides, and metal alloys are prepared via chemical synthesis from aluminum, iron, molybdenum, chromium and vanadium starting materials. Decomposition of metal precursors or co-precipitation or precipitation of metal precursors is followed by consolidation of the resulting nanostructured powders.

Abstract: A method for controlling oxygen in valve metal materials. The method includes deoxidizing a valve metal material, typically tantalum, niobium, or alloys thereof, and leaching the material in an acid leach solution at a temperature lower than room temperature. In one embodiment of the present invention, the acid leach solution is prepared and cooled to a temperature lower than room temperature prior to leaching the deoxidized valve metal material. The method of the present invention has been found to lower both the oxygen and fluoride concentrations in valve metal materials, as the use of reduced acid leach temperatures provide lower oxygen for a given quantity of a leach acid, such as hydrofluoric acid.

Abstract: A process for producing nanoscale powders, and the powders so produced. The process comprises mixing an emulsion comprising all of the elements of the desired powder composition and a combustible fuel, and then combusting that emulsion to produce a powder. Powders with a median particle size of less than 50 nm have been made by this process. The process is suitable for the production of many types of powders, including particles and nanowhiskers of simple, doped, and polymetallic powders.

Abstract: Quantum dots of a metal or metal compound are made by a method of providing a solution in an evaporable solvent at a predetermined concentration of a chosen metal and forming droplets of the solution of a substantially uniform predetermined size. The droplets are thereafter brought into contact with a gas phase reagent thereby forming the metal or metal compound quantum dots desired. The solvent may be removed before, during or after the contacting of the droplets with the gas phase reagent. The metal or metal compound quantum dots so formed are deposited on a substrate. The quantum dots may be contained within a polymer as a film. By control of the concentration of the solution and the size of the droplets the size of the quantum dots may be closely controlled.

Abstract: A method of making flowable tungsten/copper composite powder by milling an aqueous slurry of a mixture of the desired weight ratio of tungsten powder and copper oxide powder and, optionally, a small amount of cobalt powder, spray-drying the slurry to form spherical, flowable agglomerates, and reducing the agglomerates in a hydrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: A method for preparing controlled phase alloys useful for engineering and hydrogen storage applications. This novel method avoids melting the constituents by employing vapor transport, in a hydrogen atmosphere, of an active metal constituent, having a high vapor pressure at temperatures .apprxeq.300 C. and its subsequent condensation on and reaction with the other constituent (substrate) of an alloy thereby forming a controlled phase alloy and preferably a single phase alloy. It is preferred that the substrate material be a metal powder such that diffusion of the active metal constituent, preferably magnesium, and reaction therewith can be completed within a reasonable time and at temperatures .apprxeq.300 C. thereby avoiding undesirable effects such as sintering, local compositional inhomogeneities, segregation, and formation of unwanted second phases such as intermetallic compounds.

Abstract: A method for making a hydrogen storage alloy comprises subjecting a bulky hydrogen storage alloy to a first thermal treatment at a temperature ranging from 800.degree. to 1100.degree. C., cooling the thus treated alloy, grinding the cooled alloy to pieces having an average particle size of 20 .mu.m or below, and subjecting the pieces to a second thermal treatment in vacuum or in an atmosphere of an inert gas at a temperature of 200.degree. to 1050.degree. C. to obtain an alloy product. A hydrogen storage alloy obtained by the method is also described.

Abstract: A continuous process that produces nanoscale powders from different types of precursor material by evaporating the material and quenching the vaporized phase in a converging-diverging expansion nozzle. The precursor material suspended in a carrier gas is continuously vaporized in a thermal reaction chamber under conditions that favor nucleation of the resulting vapor. Immediately after the initial nucleation stages, the vapor stream is rapidly and uniformly quenched at rates of at least 1,000 K/sec, preferably above 1,000,000 K/sec, to block the continued growth of the nucleated particles and produce a nanosize powder suspension of narrow particle-size distribution. The nanopowder is then harvested by filtration from the quenched vapor stream and the carrier medium is purified, compressed and recycled for mixing with new precursor material in the feed stream.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for an alumina-dispersed reinforced copper alloy according to the invention is an improved method which is capable of manufacturing efficiently alumina-dispersed reinforced copper having both good electro-conductivity used for wire-manufacturing-material and good mechanical property, the manufacturing method comprises the steps of obtaining powders constituted by particles having aluminum-contained copper alloy-oxide, allowing to mill aluminum-contained copper alloy powder within the air atmosphere by milling device with mechanical-alloying-operation due to shock compression, converting aluminum into aluminum-oxide by heat-treatment of the powders within inert atmosphere, implementing reduction-treatment of the converted member within the reducing atmosphere, and executing hot extrusion the reduction-treated-material.

Abstract: An apparatus provides high temperature and short residence time conditions for the production of nanoscale ceramic powders. The apparatus includes a confinement structure having a multiple inclined surfaces for confining flame located between the surfaces so as to define a flame zone. A burner system employs one or more burners to provide flame to the flame zone. Each burner is located in the flame zone in close proximity to at least one of the inclined surfaces. A delivery system disposed adjacent the flame zone delivers an aerosol, comprising an organic or carbonaceous carrier material and a ceramic precursor, to the flame zone to expose the aerosol to a temperature sufficient to induce combustion of the carrier material and vaporization and nucleation, or diffusion and oxidation, of the ceramic precursor to form pure, crystalline, narrow size distribution, nanophase ceramic particles.

Abstract: A deformed ultra fine grain is comprised of a spherical body and a tail-like projection projecting from the surface of the spherical body. The tail-like projection exhibits a separating effect on the adjacent deformed ultra fine grains and therefore, aggregation of the ultra fine grains is avoided. Bulk quantities of the deformed ultra fine grains are produced by evaporating a metal by a plasma arc in a controlled atmosphere having a gas that combines with the material of the spherical body to form the tail-like projection.

Abstract: The invention relates to cobalt metal powders as a binder metal for the production of diamond and/or hard-metal tools and/or wear-resistant coatings and to composite sintered articles produced therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of finely divided metal and/or ceramic powders by reacting appropriate metal compounds and appropriate reagents in the gas phase (CVR) chemical vapor reaction, wherein the metal compound(s) and the further reagents are brought to reaction in the gaseous state in a reactor and are subsequently homogeneously condensed directly out of the gas phase, with exclusion of any wall reaction, and are subsequently separated from the reaction medium.

Abstract: Articles having improved strength at high temperature are made from near-eutectic nickel-base superalloys. In such alloys, the improved properties are achieved by preventing the formation of a dispersed second phase during the production of alloy powder. After the powder is consolidated, a dispersion of the second phase is developed through thermal treatment. Consolidation may be achieved by direct application of pressure, or by incremental solidification processes. Some of these alloys are formulated to achieve additional strengthening by precipitation hardening.

Abstract: A method of making flowable tungsten/copper composite powder by milling an aqueous slurry of a mixture of the desired weight ratio of tungsten powder and copper oxide powder and, optionally, a small amount of cobalt powder, spray-drying the slurry to form spherical, flowable agglomerates, and reducing the agglomerates in a hydrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to nano-composite powders of alumina and metal constituted of grains of micronic size. Each grain comprises a compact matrix of alumina of a specific surface area less than 5 m.sup.2 /g, in which are dispersed crystallites of transition metals of alloys of these metals, of sizes less than 50 nm. The powder according to the invention may be produced starting with a precursor comprised of a mixed carboxylic salt of aluminum and one or more transition metals. The powders according to the invention permit producing by sintering cermets of alumina/metal benefitting from greatly improved mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties.

Abstract: An intermetallic compound such as Nb.sub.3 Al exhibits the phenomenon of self-disintegration, when hydrogen is adsorbed in the intermetallic compound. This self-disintegration is used for the pulverization of the intermetallic compound material. The material is autogeneously pulverized into very fine particles only by adjusting an atmosphere to which the material is exposed, since the pulverizing reaction occurs between hydrogen existent in the atmosphere and the active surface of the intermetallic compound. The pulverized intermetallic compound having irregular shapes and large specific surface area is useful in various technical fields, e.g. as a superconductive material, a heat-resistant material, a magnetic body or a hydrogen-absorbing material.

Abstract: A method for producing a metal composite powder, such as a high alloy metal composite powder, which includes pretreating the alloying components prior to milling with a base iron powder. A short milling time is used, yielding a metal composite powder which exhibits good compactability, microstructure, controllable flow, post-sintering homogeneity, and offers a more economical production method.

Abstract: Non-amalgamated zinc alloy powder is prepared by admixing zinc alloy powder with a predetermined amount of indium and heating the resulting mixture at temperature ranging from 160.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. in inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: An iron-based powder mixture for powder metallurgy essentially consists of a melted mixture, as a binder, which includes about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight of a powder of at least one organic compound selected from stearic acid, oleic acid amide, and stearic acid amide, and about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight of a powder of stearic acid bisamide; and the balance which is an iron-based powder, to the surface of which adhered about 0.1% to about 3.0% by weight of an alloying powder and/or a powder for improving machinability. Disclosed also is a method of producing the mixture.

Abstract: An improved flaked tantalum powder and process for making the flaked powder are disclosed. The powder is characterized by having a Scott density greater than about 18 g/in.sup.3 and preferably at least about 90% of the flake particles having no dimension greater than about 55 micrometers. Agglomerates of the flaked tantalum powder, provide improved flowability, green strength and pressing characteristics compared to conventional flaked tantalum powders. The improved flaked tantalum powder can be made by preparing a flaked tantalum and then reducing the flake size until a Scott density greater than about 18 g/in.sup.3 is achieved. The invention also provides pellets and capacitors prepared from the abovedescribed flaked tantalum powder.

Abstract: A powdered aluminum composition is mixed with lithium dispersed in an inert, non-water absorbent, liquid medium to produce a substantially homogenous admixture that is heated to melt the lithium and vaporize the liquid medium to thereby obtain a decovered powdered alloy comprising aluminum and lithium. The liquid medium has major and minor liquid constituents, wherein the major liquid constituent has a boiling point below the melting point of lithium and the minor liquid constituent has a boiling point above the melting point of lithium but below the melting point of the alloy being produced.

Abstract: Very good masking of pack diffusion aluminizing or chromizing on any metal to keep portions from being diffusion coated, is effected by localized coating the lowest layer of which is depletion-reducing masking powder the metal portion of which can have same composition as substrates, mixed with inert refractory diluent and non-contaminating film-former such as acrylic resin. The upper coating layer can be of non-contaminating particles like nickel or Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 that upon aluminizing or chromizing become coherently held together to form a secure sheath. Such sheath can also be used for holding localized diffusion-coating layer in place. Film-former can be dissolved in volatile solvent, preferably methyl chloroform, in which masking powder or sheath-forming powder is suspended. Chromizing can be performed before aluminizing for greater effects. Aluminizing of metals like iron and nickel followed by leaching out much of the diffused-in aluminum, gives these substrates a pyrophoric and catalytic surface.

Abstract: A method of making extrafine pure elemental metal powder from a highly malleable pure elemental metal powder. The pure elemental metal powder is oxidized, ground to a desired average particle size, reduced in a reducing atmosphere to a pure elemental metal powder, and then sieved to obtain the desired fraction of extrafine pure elemental metal powder.

Abstract: To manufacture spherical particles out of liquid phase with a narrow grain spectrum using melting temperatures of up to 1500.degree. C. by generating droplets by means of vibrating nozzles, the liquid phase, the nozzle and the drop distance for the droplets are maintained at a constant temperature of 1.degree. to 10.degree. C. above the melting temperature of the liquid phase until the spherical shape of the falling droplets has stabilized. The particles must then be abruptly chilled.

Abstract: A low temperature process is described for forming a coating or powder comprising one or more metals or metal compounds by first reacting one or more metal reactants with a halide-containing reactant to form one or more reactive intermediates capable of reacting, disproportionating, or decomposing to form a coating or powder comprising the one or more metal reactants. When one or more metal compounds are formed, either as powders or as coatings, a third reactant may be injected into a second reaction zone in the reactor to contact the one or more reactive intermediates formed in the first reaction zone to thereby form one or more metal compounds such as metal nitrides, carbides, oxides, borides, or mixtures of same.

Abstract: A process for producing a copper fine powder, which comprises thermally decomposing anhydrous copper formate in a solid phase in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of from 150.degree. to 300.degree. C., thereby yielding a copper fine powder having a primary particle diameter of from 0.2 to 1 .mu.m, a specific surface area of from 5 to 0.5 m.sup.2 /g and small agglomerating properties, said anhydrous copper formate being an anhydrous copper formate powder 90 wt % or more of which undergoes thermal decomposition within a temperature range of from 160.degree. to 200.degree. C. when the anhydrous copper formate powder is heated in a nitrogen or hydrogen gas atmosphere at a heating rate of 3.degree. C./min.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing acicular non-sintered iron metal pigments for magnetic signal recording, having a high storage density, high saturation magnetization and remanence, the coercive field strength of which at a given crystallite size of the starting material is low and is increased as desired by subsequent annealing. The preparation of said iron metal pigments is effected by reduction of iron oxide compounds with metal hydrides of metals of the Groups I or II of the Periodic Table of Elements in organic solvents, with the metal hydrides being solvatized with a carrier in the form of a carrier complex.

Abstract: An iron base powder mixture for powder metallurgy, comprising an iron based powder and an alloying powder and/or a powder for improving machinability, wherein the alloying powder and/or the powder for improving machinability are adhered to the surface of the ferrous powder by means of a melted-together binder composed of an oil and a metal soap or wax.