PRODUCTION METHOD OF ZINC OXIDE WHISKER.

摘要

In a production method of a zinc oxide whisker, a zinc oxide whisker of a single crystal having a shape consisting of a nucleus portion and needle-like portions extending from the nucleus in four, mutually different directions, is produced by heating and oxidizing zinc powder having an oxide film in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. The atmosphere described above may contain carbon dioxide and a steam. As a firing furnace, a furnace is used which can form continuously an atmosphere having a high zinc vapor partial pressure on a zinc evaporation side and an atmosphere having a high oxygen partial pressure which promotes the whisker formation, and the size of the zinc oxide whisker can be controlled by the ratio of these partial pressures. When used as various structural materials and electronic component materials, this zinc oxide whisker does not exhibit anisotropy and since it is a macrocrystal having a size of several hundreds of microns, it can drastically improve mechanical strength of metals, ceramics, synthetic resins, and the like, when it is mixed with them.