Research on Coatings or Surface Treatment of Metal Powders.

摘要

This report describes the research performed under the above contract. The objective of the contract was to assess several techniques utilizing surface treatments or coatings on micron sized metal powders to overcome their agglomerating properties. Under the contract, several techniques including surface treatments, polymer coating and additions of flow agents were investigated. Special efforts including, a literature review and experimental adhesion force measurements were directed towards understanding the forces holding the particles. Treatments were evaluated by the measurement of interparticle adhesion forces, tensile strength of powders and release characteristics of the powders in vacuum. A treatment with steam appears to give the best flowing and dispersion characterisitics to the powder in air and a .0001 vacuum. The steam treated powder also showed a low tensile strength and a low interparticle force of attraction. (Author)