The method of producing a solid spherical powder according to the present disclosure includes: a step A of preparing a first powder raw material containing agglomerated particles and/or solidified particles having a particle diameter of 1 μm to 1,000 μm and introducing the first powder raw material into a plasma flame to produce a hollow spherical powder having a surface layer shell having a thickness of 1 μm to 50 μm; a step B of subjecting the hollow spherical powder to pulverization treatment to pulverize a hollow shape of the hollow spherical powder, thus obtaining a second powder raw material which is solid; and a step C of introducing the second powder raw material into a plasma flame, melting and solidifying the second powder raw material to obtain the solid spherical powder.

A method of purifying a composition including metal nanostructures. The method includes combining the composition and a water-miscible polymer to form a combination that promotes an agglomeration of the metal nanostructures in the combination over an agglomeration of low-aspect-ratio nanostructures in the combination. The method includes subjecting the combination to a sedimentation process to form a sediment layer including a concentration of the metal nanostructures that is greater than a previous concentration of the metal nanostructures in the combination.

A method of purifying a composition including metal nanostructures. The method includes combining the composition and a water-miscible polymer to form a combination that promotes an agglomeration of the metal nanostructures in the combination over an agglomeration of low-aspect-ratio nanostructures in the combination. The method includes subjecting the combination to a sedimentation process to form a sediment layer including a concentration of the metal nanostructures that is greater than a previous concentration of the metal nanostructures in the combination.

A method of purifying a metal nanostructure composition containing desired nanostructures and undesired nanostructures. The method includes providing a solution within which metal nanostructures have been synthesized including desired and undesired nanostructures. The solution includes polyol and has a viscosity. The method includes diluting the solution with a dilutant to lower the viscosity of the solution and provide a diluted solution. The method includes sedimenting the undesired nanostructures from the diluted solution. The method includes collecting the supernatant with the desired nanostructures and retaining the undesired nanostructures inside the sedimentation device. In an example, such is via a sedimentation device, which is a special tray system designed with grooved bottoms to retain the undesired nanostructures.

To provide a powder material for additive layer manufacturing capable of molding a three-dimensional shaped molded article having less cracking or chipping and having high hardness and a method for manufacturing a molded article using the powder material. A powder material for additive layer manufacturing used to manufacture a three-dimensional shaped molded article by irradiation with a laser light or an electron beam contains cobalt, a first component containing one or more substances selected from the group consisting of vanadium carbide, niobium carbide, and molybdenum carbide, an optional additive component, and the balance of tungsten carbide. The content of the first component is 0.6% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less.

To provide a powder material for additive layer manufacturing capable of molding a three-dimensional shaped molded article having less cracking or chipping and having high hardness and a method for manufacturing a molded article using the powder material. A powder material for additive layer manufacturing used to manufacture a three-dimensional shaped molded article by irradiation with a laser light or an electron beam contains cobalt, a first component containing one or more substances selected from the group consisting of vanadium carbide, niobium carbide, and molybdenum carbide, an optional additive component, and the balance of tungsten carbide. The content of the first component is 0.6% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less.

A metal powder for powder metallurgy contains Fe as a principal component, Cr in a proportion of 11.0 mass % or more and 25.0 mass % or less, Ni in a proportion of 8.0 mass % or more and 30.0 mass % or less, Si in a proportion of 0.20 mass % or more and 1.2 mass % or less, C in a proportion of 0.070 mass % or more and 0.40 mass % or less, Mn in a proportion of 0.10 mass % or more and 2.0 mass % or less, P in a proportion of 0.10 mass % or more and 0.50 mass % or less, and at least one of W and Nb in a proportion of 0.20 mass % or more and 3.0 mass % or less in total.

A metal powder for powder metallurgy contains Fe as a principal component, Cr in a proportion of 11.0 mass % or more and 25.0 mass % or less, Ni in a proportion of 8.0 mass % or more and 30.0 mass % or less, Si in a proportion of 0.20 mass % or more and 1.2 mass % or less, C in a proportion of 0.070 mass % or more and 0.40 mass % or less, Mn in a proportion of 0.10 mass % or more and 2.0 mass % or less, P in a proportion of 0.10 mass % or more and 0.50 mass % or less, and at least one of W and Nb in a proportion of 0.20 mass % or more and 3.0 mass % or less in total.

A method for producing a powder-metallurgical product, in particular a bearing element or a motor component, is provided. According to the method, a metal powder, typically with a grain size between 2 μm and 15 μm, is melt-metallurgically produced and agglomerated into a powder mixture having a grain size smaller than 400 μm by organic binders and waxes. Subsequently, the agglomerated powder mixture is formed into a green body typically by way of uniaxial pressing and the formed green body thermally debindered. Finally, the debindered green body is sintered typically at temperatures of 1000° C. to 1300° C. and the sintered body reworked into the powder-metallurgical product.

A method for producing a powder-metallurgical product, in particular a bearing element or a motor component, is provided. According to the method, a metal powder, typically with a grain size between 2 μm and 15 μm, is melt-metallurgically produced and agglomerated into a powder mixture having a grain size smaller than 400 μm by organic binders and waxes. Subsequently, the agglomerated powder mixture is formed into a green body typically by way of uniaxial pressing and the formed green body thermally debindered. Finally, the debindered green body is sintered typically at temperatures of 1000° C. to 1300° C. and the sintered body reworked into the powder-metallurgical product.