Preparation of copper and silicon/copper powders by a gas evaporation-condensation method

Abstract

Pure and silicon-coated metal copper nano to submicron-sized powders were prepared by gas evaporation and condensation. This powder was synthesized by using an industrial electron accelerator, ELV-6, with Ar as the carrier gas. Vapour from the liquefied metal surface was transferred to the cold zone by the carrier gas and precipitated as spherical Cu metal and Si/Cu composite powders. The mean diameter of the resulting powder was 100–200 nm.