Abstract
A new electrolytic method for the production of very fine copper powder was developed and operated using a cell containing Ti3+ in 10 vol% sulfuric acid solution as an electrolyte and a copper soluble anode as the source of copper. The influences of the electrolytic conditions on the particle size and the morphology of the powder were investigated. The results obtained were summarized as follows:
1) Fine copper powder was successfully formed and precipitated at the bottom of the cell by Ti3+ -reduction of Cu2+ formed by the anodic dissolution of Cu.
2) Mean particle size of copper powder obtained was varied from 0.45 to 1.40 μm. It decreased with the decrease of Ti3 concentration in the electrolyte and with the increase of the anodic current density.
3) The particle shape changed from spherical to polyhedral as the size of the powder increased, and needle-or plate-like particles co-precipitated among the granular precipitates as the concentration ratio of (Total-Ti)/Ti3+ in the electrolyte exceeded about 10.
4) By the addition of cathodic-polarization accelerator, gelatin in particular, a reduction of particle size was observed.
