Application of Superfine Copper Powder

1. Applied to MLCC electrode

Copper is one of the ideal substitutes for silver palladium internal electrode because of its low resistivity, low electromigration speed, and low price. However, its chemical properties are relatively active. In the air, the powdered copper with a large specific surface area is easily oxidized, and the surface form Cu2O and CuO thin-films, which rapidly reduce its conductivity or even become non-conductive. The chip multilayer ceramic capacitor's inner electrode, which is made of the ultra-fine copper powder prepared by the phase reduction method, overcomes the above shortcomings. It has the advantages of good dispersion, high sphericity, and even particle size, which become an excellent choice for MLCC.

2. Applied to the conductive coating

The conductive coating is a kind of functional coating that developed rapidly with science and technology progress. At present, its leading fillers are carbon system, silver system, copper system, nickel system, and hybrid system. As the conductive filler in the coating for electromagnetic wave shielding, copper powder has high conductivity, relatively low price, easy access to materials, and no silver migration in the coating, which affects the performance of the coating. However, copper is easy to oxidize, and its oxide conductivity is low, resulting in a decrease in the coating's conductivity. Therefore, the research and development of copper powder composite conductive coating with low price and metal migration resistance are paid more and more attention.

3. Applied to lubricants

Ultrafine copper powder is correctly diffused in various lubricating oils to form a stable suspension. This can become an excellent lubricant, significantly reducing the wear resistance and friction of materials and equipment, especially heavy load, low speed, and high-temperature vibration, and play an extremely important role in protecting materials equipment. For example, copper sulfate pentahydrate is the main raw material to prepare nano copper powder. Its anti-wear and antifriction performance are more robust than the traditional lubricant. It has become a new generation of lubricant anti-wear and antifriction additives.

4. Applied to catalyst

The ultrafine copper powder has fine and uniform particles, which have great specific surface activity. People use this characteristic to make high-efficiency catalyst. For example, in the process of automobile exhaust purification, ultrafine copper powder, as a catalyst, partially replaces platinum and ruthenium, making toxic carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and nitric oxide into nitrogen dioxide. Because of its high catalytic activity, the ultrafine copper powder can also be used as a catalyst in the reaction of carbon dioxide and hydrogen to methanol. The polymerization of acetylene catalyzed by nano copper particles has also achieved satisfactory results.

5. Other applications

Ultrafine copper powder is used to prepare nano copper materials and materials with good ductility, good strength, and plasticity. These properties can be obtained, which are very conducive to processing materials and micro machinery manufacturing.

 

Also, because of the low melting point of copper, ultrafine copper powder is often used in the aerospace field to make rocket nozzles. In medical treatment, the ultra-fine copper powder also plays an essential role in treating osteoporosis, fracture, and other diseases.