Effect of Production Factors on Particle Size of Silver Powder Produced through Water Atomization

Abstract

Silver powder was prepared through water atomization at 1280 under the nitrogen atmosphere. As prepared silver powder consisted of various particles with morphologies such as spherical, irregular and coarse and had high crystallinity. Relationship between the volume average particle size D 50 of silver powder and production factors was investigated. In this work, the production factors such as atomization pressure, angle, nozzle diameter, suction amount of air and water temperature were selected to verify the in uence on D 50. It was found that D 50 decreased with decreasing atomization pressure, angle, nozzle diameter and water temperature. When the atomization pressure was 100 MPa, the uniform water stream was disturbed and then D 50 became higher. On the other hand, it was con rmed that D 50 decreased with increasing suction amount under reduced pressure. Crystallite size and crystallinity of silver powder increased with decreasing water temperature.