SPHERICAL PARTICLES HAVING NANOMETER SIZE, CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE, AND GOOD SPHERICITY AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME

摘要

The present invention provides a method for producing nanometer-size spherical particles. The method includes a first step for producing intermediate spherical particles. The intermediate spherical particles include a polycrystalline or single-crystalline region, having a particle size of 1 to 300 μm. The method of the present invention further includes a second step for producing final spherical particles. The second step uses a swirling plasma gas flow having the central axis thereof, the central axis running through an area between an anode and a cathode of a plasma generator. The intermediate spherical particles are discharged along the axis to subject the intermediate spherical particles to a plasma atmosphere of the area to form the final spherical particles.

主权项

1: A method for producing nanometer-size spherical particles, comprising:
a first step for producing intermediate spherical particles, comprising:
melting a starting material selected from the group consisting of a metal, an alloy, and a metal compound;atomizing the molten starting material into fine droplets;solidifying the fine droplets to form the intermediate spherical particles; and a second step for producing final spherical particles, comprising:
providing a swirling plasma gas flow having the central axis thereof, the central axis running through an area between an anode and a cathode of a plasma generator; anddischarging the intermediate spherical particles along the axis to subject the intermediate spherical particles to a plasma atmosphere of the area to form the final spherical particles, wherein the final spherical particles include one or both of a polycrystalline region and a single-crystalline region, and have a particle size of less than 1 μm and a sphericity of −10% to +10%.