Spark-eroded particles: Influence of processing parameters

Ni particles were prepared by spark erosion in a fixed-gap apparatus, and in the usual "shaker-pot" assembly, in an investigation of the influence of various processing parameters on the particles' properties. The sizes of the particles were studied as functions of spark energies ranging from 10 muJ to 1 J, and a scaling relation derived from a simple model was verified. Several different static and rotating electrode configurations were compared with respect to their suitability for producing significant yields of small particles. The advantages of stirring the dielectric with the fixed-gap apparatus and of rotating the electrodes were demonstrated. Water, kerosene, and liquid argon and nitrogen were used as dielectric liquids. When compounds were formed, the reaction with the dielectric proceeded inversely with particle size. Spark erosion in kerosene at low spark energies, followed by annealing, proved to be an effective method to produce fine nickel particles. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.