Metal particles and method for producing same

• US 20060065543A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shinano Kenshi Kabushiki Kaisha, Shinshu University National University Corporation
• Original Assignee: Shinano Kenshi Kabushiki Kaisha, Shinshu University National University Corporation
• Inventors: Arai, Susumu, Okubo, Masashi, Ichiki, Kouichi, Endo, Morinobu
• Application Number:
  US10/545,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20060065543A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/577
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 1/12 Metallic powder containing non-metallic particles containing lubricating or binding agents or organic material B22F1/10
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 49/00 Alloys containing metallic or non-metallic fibres or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: C25C 5/02 from solutions

Abstract

The present invention provides metal particles, in which microfine carbon fibers are uniformly dispersed, and a method of producing such metal particles. The method comprises the steps of: electrolyzing an electrolytic solution, in which the microfine carbon fibers are dispersed, so as to deposit metal particles, in which the microfine carbon fibers are incorporated, on a cathode; and separating the deposited metal particles from the cathode. The separated metal particles are collected, cleaned and dried.

Claims

1. A method of producing metal particles comprising the steps of:

electrolyzing an electrolytic solution, in which the microfine carbon fibers are dispersed, so as to deposit metal particles, in which the microfine carbon fibers are incorporated, on a cathode; and

separating the deposited metal particles from the cathode.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of collecting, cleaning and drying the separated metal particles.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein conditions of said electrolyzing step are adjusted so as to deposit the metal particles having average particle diameters of several hundred nm to several dozen micro meter.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal particles are copper particles.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal particles are separated by soaking the cathode, on which the metal particles are deposited, into acetone and applying supersonic waves.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal particles are separated from the cathode by spraying compressed air to the cathode or applying shocks or vibrations to the cathode while electrolyzing.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the microfine carbon fibers are dispersed in the electrolytic solution by adding a dispersing agent, which is made from an organic compound.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the dispersing agent is polyacrylic acid whose molecular weight is 5000 or more.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the cathode is roughed.

10. A metal particle produced by the method according to claim 1.

11. A composite material produced by melting an aggregate of the metal particles according to claim 10.