| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ceramic bead manufacturing method for obtaining ceramic beads with smooth surfaces using a simpler method without using any complicated processes, such as combining a DC plasma and a high-frequency plasma or using two-stage high-frequency plasma, and the ceramic beads. <P>SOLUTION: A preheated starting ceramic material is introduced into a thermal plasma wherein a laminar flow is formed using a high-voltage type direct-current (DC) plasma gun, and is cooled and solidified, and ceramic beads are then collected. It is preferable that a starting material powder, that is preheated by being passed through a furnace through which a heat-resistant pipe runs while the starting ceramic material is fed using a carrier gas, is introduced into the thermal plasma, and that the plasma treatment is applied under conditions that the ceramic beads are discharged at a discharge angle of ≥60° with respect to the thermal plasma. As a result, good ceramic beads with smooth surfaces and without flaws such as cracks or internal voids in the beads can be obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT |
