HYDROGEN ABSORBING ALLOY POWDER AND METHOD OF PRODUCING HYDROGEN ABSORBING ALLOY POWDER

摘要

A method of treating surfaces of a hydrogen absorbing alloy and, particularly, a method of treating surfaces of a hydrogen absorbing alloy by enhancing the resistance of the surfaces of the powder against contamination such as oxide film, moisture and adsorptive gases when the alloy powder is being treated in the open air. In pulverizing or in treating a powdery hydrogen absorbing alloy or in producing a powder by the quickly quenched coagulation, the hydrogen absorbing alloy is treated in an atmosphere containing an SF6 gas to form a protection film containing at least a sulfide or a fluoride on the surfaces of the hydrogen absorbing alloy in order to enhance resistance against contamination. The method comprises a step for containing the hydrogen absorbing alloy in a container to pulverize it by hydrogenation in a hydrogen atmosphere, a step for dehydrogenation by evacuating the container, and a step for heat-treating the hydrogen absorbing alloy in an atmosphere containing the SF6 gas in the container.