Preparation of fine particles of tin–M (M: silver, bismuth) alloys with ammonia splashing method

In this study, as a part of a series of fundamental studies on the production of fine metallic particles with the ammonia splashing method, tin–silver or tin–bismuth alloy on a graphite rod was induction-melted in an ammonia gas stream to investigate the production rate of particles, i.e. the rate of the splash, and the characteristics of the particles. Pure silver and bismuth were not splashed by ammonia gas, but pure tin was splashed. The rate of splash of the alloy decreased with increase of the content of the alloying element. According to the Arrhenius equation, the rate of splash increases with the temperature of the molten alloy. The rate of splash also increased with increase in the ammonia gas flow rate. The particles obtained were metallic and spherical. The size of the particles increased with temperature rise and with increasing ammonia gas flow rate. When alloying elements were added to the pure tin, the particle size decreased abruptly.