SPHERICAL METAL POWDER AND PRODUCTION METHOD OF THE SAME

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide spherical micro metal powders superior in sphericity and particle size distribution to the conventional powders and the production method of the same. SOLUTION: This invention offers a production process wherein a plating mold 1 in which many microelectrodes 11 are arranged to have their end surface 11a exposed to the surface of an insulating base 12 are employed, and each end surface is electroplated with respective microelectrodes used as cathode to selectively deposit a metal on each apical surface 11a, forming thin micro films 30 of the metal having similarity in shape corresponding to the apical surface configuration. When the metallic films are heated at the temperature above the melting point of the metal in vacuum, inert gas or silicone oil, molten thin metallic films are spheroidized to produce spherical metal powders.