A new technology for agglomerated nanocrystalline tantalum powders production has been developed in the Institute of Metallurgy in co-operation with Tekhnologii Tantala Co.Ltd. (Tantalum Technologies). It involves electrochemical process in molten salts, during which both reduction and crystallization of metal take place in the bulk in the electrolysis bath.

APPLICATION FIELDS ARE AS FOLLOWS

• commercial production of a great variety of metals and semiconductors nanopowders;

• manufacture of electronic components.

KEY FEATURES OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The processes of reduction and crystallization of metals take place in a homogeneous salt melt under reactionbal-ance with a 100% end product yield.

COMPARED TO KNOWN TECHNOLOGIES, THE MAJOR ADVANTAGES OF THE PROPOSED ELECTROCHEMICAL TECHNIQUE ARE AS FOLLOWS

Low cost of products;

High purity of nanopowders;

By varying the process temperature and current density, the grain size distribution and microscopic structure of powders can be controlled in a wide range;

Compactness of production and automation feasibility;

Environmentally appropriate and practically wasteless production.