Metal
and Metalworking Industry -Electrolytic Copper
Powder
Process:
A process for production of electrolytic copper powder
for Carbon brush, Welding electrodes, Bearings etc.
Uses:
Used in the manufacture of bearing, bushes, electric
contacts, electronic components and high conducting
sintered parts. Besides it finds its application in
production of printing inks, as a constituent for welding
electrode, dispersion strengthened alloys and infiltrants.
Salient Features:
Copper powder is made using pure copper metal
as anode and stainless steel as cathode in the electrolyte
consisting of copper sulphate solution and sulphuric
acid together with additive. The process does not require
any mechanical scrapper to remove the powder from the
cathode and uses a cheaper reducing agent for annealing
the powder.
It permits the use of copper scrap
also for production of copper powder. The process is
simple, easy to operate, economical and capable of propducing
powder in any quantities large or small of P /M grade.
Environmental
Considerations: Treatment of effluent is necessary
before the Disposal
Scale of Development:
5 Kg/day
Commercialisation Status: The process
has been licensed to three parties
Major Raw Materials:
(a) Copper metal of electrolytic grade /Copper scrap,
(b) sulphuric acid (Commercial grade)
Major Plant
Equipment/Machinery
(a) Electrolytic tank,
(b) Filter/Centrifuage,
(c) Dryer,
(d) Ball Mill,
(e) Pusher type muffle furnace and
(f) Sieve shaker
Techno-Economics: For 90
Tons/ annum production Project Cost: Rs. 50.0 lakhs
Working capital required: 50
Lakhs Net Profit: Rs. 16.00 Lakhs ROI : 32%
Technology Package
Include
(i) Process know-how
(ii) Details of equipment
(iii) Plant lay-out
(iv) Quality assurance methods. Assistance in setting
up the plant on separate terms and conditions.
Released Through:
NML
Contact: Director
National Metallurgical Laboratory
Jamshedpur - 831007, India
