Abstract
Germanium spherical particles were prepared by pulsed orifice ejection method. The apparatus was divised for ejecting molten droplet from a small orifice by a reciprocating action of a rod given by piezoelectric actuator. Germanium particles with diameter of several hundreds micrometer could be formed by optimizing process parameters of feeder cross-section area, rod position, supplied pressure and rod displacement. The obtained particles were polycrystal and had microstructure derived either from dendritic growth at a high undercooling or lateral growth at a low undercooling. The latter particles exhibited smaller number of grains than the former ones, and these grain boundaries were twin planes. Finally, solidification mechanisms for the particles were estimated.
