Abstract
Prompted by the fact that knowledge of the essential properties of fine metallic powders, such as Co powder, used in hard metal production is often inadequate, this investigation uses a special working hypothesis. According to this the following properties of such a powder are most important: its SEM image, specific surface area, crystallite size as determined with X-rays, and α/β phase distribution. In the first part of this paper two well-known commercial Co powders are studied; in the second part methods of producing a fine Co powder from a special type of Co oxalate are described. The results show that it is feasible to produce a powder corresponding to the reference powders, provided that the crystal size and form of the oxalate are correctly developed and decomposition conditions (temperature, time) are right.
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