Method for manufacturing powder material and shaped products utilizing the conditions in outer space

摘要

A method and apparatus for manufacturing powders comprising converting a solid starting material from the solid state to the gaseous or vapor phase, and forming powder particles by transferring the starting material in gaseous or vapor phase into a sealed reaction chamber with nucleation agents. The reaction chamber includes a wall of bellows construction to enable the chamber to expand and contract and a radiation reflecting coating is provided on at least a portion of the wall. The reaction chamber is subjected to one or more conditions of outer space. The powder particles can be supplied to a shaping stage in which the powder particles are compressed into compacts or formed into the final shape of a desired component.