Foreign industrial copper powder production began in the 1920s. At that time, the main production processes are electrolysis and oxidation-reduction method. After 1950s, the replacement precipitation, water treatment method and atomization production process emerge. In 1958, China began production experiments of electrolytic copper powder. They got success in the mid-1960s. At present, China's copper powder (FCu) production processes are electrolysis, atomization and the reduction method.

Production process is simple with small investment. 90% of the copper powders are based on the electrolytic production. Electrolysis current intensity high, the metal powder is deposited on the cathode, scraped off and then heated to soften Serve. Powder made from pure and irregular branches like. The high purity of the electrolytic production of copper powder, repressive and good, but the production of high energy consumption, thus the high cost of serious environmental pollution.

Molten metal atomization will be pressed into the nozzle, compressed air, water or inert gas to disperse into tiny particles of metal beads, metal powder made of mostly spherical or teardrop-shaped. Atomization method is low cost, pollution advantages, can produce copper powder of low apparent density, but the higher technical requirements. Abroad from the 1960s began production of nickel powder atomization, the atomization oxidation reduction, referred to as the AOR method. China in recent years has begun to research this technology.

Reduction method is the use of a reducing gas such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, metal compounds reduction into porous and loose clumps, and then grinding to serve. This legal system into a powder with irregular shape. The copper-based powder materials including electrolytic copper powder, low loose apparent density water atomized copper powder, copper alloy powder, oxide powder, nano-copper powder and spray with anti-oxidation of the six categories of imitation gold and copper alloy powder. Electrolytic copper powder pale rose red dendritic powder, easily oxidized in moist air, soluble in hot sulfuric acid or nitric acid. Widely used in diamond tools, powder metallurgy products, friction materials, carbon products, conductive ink. Low bulk density of water atomized copper powder pale rose red irregular powder. Mainly used in diamond tools, powder metallurgy parts, chemical catalysts, carbon brushes, friction materials and welding electrodes.

The copper alloy powder, bronze powder (FCu 663) and brass powder. The bronze powder is widely used in powder metallurgy oil bearing and diamond tools; brass powder is widely used for the sleeve material, diamond tools. Oxidation of the copper powder used as a paint and chemical reagents, ceramics, enamel pigments. Uniform particle size of nano-copper powder, ball shape, crystallinity, and good dispersion. Mainly used for manufacturing a multilayer ceramic capacitor terminal and internal electrode, the electronic components of electronic slurry.

Spraying antioxidant imitation gold copper alloy powder is mainly used for high-end decoration, adding surface coating, motorcycle, automobile surface coating, textiles, printing dyeing, ceramics arts crafts production and manufacturing of plastic composites fields. In recent years, high-grade building exterior wall and interior decorations have begun to use high-quality imitation gold and copper alloy powder. At the same time, influenced by increasingly stringent environmental requirements, the electroless copper plating and electroplating copper industry will gradually be replaced by sprayed copper alloy powder with high quality. Thus it opens up a very broad market prospects for products’ applications.Source:http://www.mhcmp.com