Provided is an iron-based powder for dust core with which a dust core with low iron loss and high insulation properties can be obtained. In the iron-based powder for dust core of the present disclosure, a median particle size calculated based on cumulative volume frequency of particles of the iron-based powder for dust core is 150 μm or less, and cumulative volume frequency of the particles with an aspect ratio of 0.70 or less is 70% or less, and a median aspect ratio calculated based on cumulative volume frequency is 0.60 or more.

A method for producing a chromium sintered body includes a heat treatment step of heat-treating electrolytic chromium flakes at 1,200° C. or higher and 1,400° C. or lower, and a firing step of, after the heat treatment step, filling a container with the electrolytic chromium flakes and firing a resulting filling product by hot isostatic pressing.

There are provided an inexpensive copper powder, which has a low content of oxygen even it has a small particle diameter and which has a high shrinkage starting temperature when it is heated, and a method for producing the same. While a molten metal of copper heated to a temperature, which is higher than the melting point of copper by 250 to 700° C. (preferably 350 to 650° C. and more preferably 450 to 600° C.), is allowed to drop, a high-pressure water is sprayed onto the heated molten metal of copper in a non-oxidizing atmosphere (such as an atmosphere of nitrogen, argon, hydrogen or carbon monoxide) to rapidly cool and solidify the heated molten metal of copper to produce a copper powder which has an average particle diameter of 1 to 10 μm and a crystallite diameter Dx.sub.(200) of not less than 40 nm on (200) plane thereof, the content of oxygen in the copper powder being 0.7% by weight or less.

Provided is a composite magnetic material in which low electrical conductivity and high magnetic permeability are achieved, and in which a frequency band in which decoupling is caused encompasses higher frequencies. The composite magnetic material comprises a flat soft magnetic metal powder; insulating particles which are smaller than an average thickness of the soft magnetic metal powder and which are disposed on a surface of the soft magnetic metal powder; and an organic binder material which retains the soft magnetic metal powder and the insulating particles in a dispersed manner. In a cross section in a thickness direction of the soft magnetic metal powder, there is at least one insulating particle per a length of 0.2 μm of the soft magnetic metal powder surface.

Provided is a composite magnetic material in which low electrical conductivity and high magnetic permeability are achieved, and in which a frequency band in which decoupling is caused encompasses higher frequencies. The composite magnetic material comprises a flat soft magnetic metal powder; insulating particles which are smaller than an average thickness of the soft magnetic metal powder and which are disposed on a surface of the soft magnetic metal powder; and an organic binder material which retains the soft magnetic metal powder and the insulating particles in a dispersed manner. In a cross section in a thickness direction of the soft magnetic metal powder, there is at least one insulating particle per a length of 0.2 μm of the soft magnetic metal powder surface.

An apparatus is disclosed for producing flakes, the apparatus comprising: a) a support structure for supporting each of two supply cylinders, made of a first material from which flakes are to be produced, and a fatiguing rod assembly including at least one fatiguing rod made of a second material, each fatiguing rod having a diameter smaller than an initial diameter of the two supply cylinders; b) a compression mechanism for urging the surfaces of the two supply cylinders into contact with each fatiguing rod, and c) a drive mechanism for causing the supply cylinders to rotate while making rolling line contact with each fatiguing rod.

The contact pressure between the supply cylinders and each fatiguing rod is set sufficiently high to modify the surface of the supply cylinders by fatigue and result in separation of flakes of the first material from the surfaces of the supply cylinders.

An apparatus is disclosed for producing flakes, the apparatus comprising: a) a support structure for supporting each of two supply cylinders, made of a first material from which flakes are to be produced, and a fatiguing rod assembly including at least one fatiguing rod made of a second material, each fatiguing rod having a diameter smaller than an initial diameter of the two supply cylinders; b) a compression mechanism for urging the surfaces of the two supply cylinders into contact with each fatiguing rod, and c) a drive mechanism for causing the supply cylinders to rotate while making rolling line contact with each fatiguing rod.

The contact pressure between the supply cylinders and each fatiguing rod is set sufficiently high to modify the surface of the supply cylinders by fatigue and result in separation of flakes of the first material from the surfaces of the supply cylinders.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of making a composite. In some embodiments, the method includes applying an external magnetic field to a mixture composed of a plurality of magnetic materials in a container, in which the external magnetic field produces a homogenous and uniform magnetic flux in the container. In some embodiments, the method further includes solidifying the mixture to result in the growth of solvent crystals in the mixture, and subliming a solvent phase of the mixture in the container to thereby form a composite having uniformly aligned magnetic materials. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a composite having uniformly aligned magnetic materials. In some embodiments, a majority of the magnetic materials in the composite are aligned in the same direction.

A conductive paste and method of manufacturing thereof. The conductive paste comprises conductive particles dispersed in an organic medium, the organic medium comprising: (a) a solvent; and (b) a binder comprising a polyester. The conductive paste typically comprises silver and may contain various other additives. A stretchable conductive layer can be formed by curing the conductive paste.

A conductive paste and method of manufacturing thereof. The conductive paste comprises conductive particles dispersed in an organic medium, the organic medium comprising: (a) a solvent; and (b) a binder comprising a polyester. The conductive paste typically comprises silver and may contain various other additives. A stretchable conductive layer can be formed by curing the conductive paste.