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Synthesis of Spherical Copper Powders by Reduction Process

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Abstract

Spherical copper powders for additive manufacturing are presently made via gas atomization process which incurs high cost and energy. Present study brings in a novel method for synthesis of spherical copper powders through carbothermic reduction of copper oxides. In this process, fine graphite particles are employed to act as reducing agent as well as spherodizing aid. Effect of graphite (3.5–14 wt%) content on formation of spherical copper powders and effect of temperature (850–1050 °C) and time of reaction (30–240 min) on purity, particle size, density, morphology and flowability of powders are studied. Copper particles with spherical morphology, purity 99 wt% Cu, Oxygen (total) 0.07 wt%, mean particle size 78 µm, apparent density 4.83 g/cc, tap density 5.2 g/cc and flowability 18 s/50 g are obtained at optimized graphite additions of 10.5 wt% and process parameters of 1050 °C and 240 min.

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Abbreviations

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

EDS:

Energy-dispersive spectroscopy

AD:

Apparent density

TD:

Tap density

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. R&D Tata Steel, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, 831001, India

    Kameswara Srikar Sista, Abhijeet Premkumar Moon, Shrey Agrawal, Bilal Murtuza Pirjade & Srinivas Dwarapudi

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  1. Kameswara Srikar Sista
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Sista, K.S., Moon, A.P., Agrawal, S. et al. Synthesis of Spherical Copper Powders by Reduction Process. Trans Indian Inst Met 77, 889–896 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12666-023-03199-3

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