Production Technology, Characteristics, and Some Applications of Electric-Explosion Nanopowders of Metals

We have studied process parameters and described the equipment for the production of metal nanopowders by the electric explosion of wire (EEW) method. The results of the study show that alongside with the density of energy applied to the wire and the pressure of gaseous medium, the size of nanoparticles is determined by wire diameter, working gas and metal smelting temperatures, as well as nanopowder passivation conditions, while the disperse phase particles arise from the aggregation of clusters which form at early stages of the process. We have analyzed the dependence of nanopowder agglomeration from the density of energy applied to the wire, and we have also studied nanopowder fire hazards. Some applications of EEW nanopowders are described: modification of lubrication and high-energy materials; synthesis of intermetallic and high-temperature compounds; synthesis of aluminium oxihydroxide nanofibers, their application for glue enhancement and microbiological water filter production.