Preparation of spherical ultrafine copper powder via hydrogen reduction-densification of Mg(OH)2-coated Cu2O powder

A novel process was developed to produce spherical copper powder for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC). Spherical ultrafine cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) powder was prepared by glucose reduction of Cu(OH)₂. The Cu₂O particles were coated by Mg(OH)₂ and reduced to metallic copper particles. At last, the copper particles were densified by high-temperature heat treatment. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), tap density, and thermogravimetry (TG). It is found that the shape and size distribution of the copper powder are determined by the Cu₂O powder and the copper particles do not agglomerate during high-temperature heat treatment because of the existence of Mg(OH)₂ coating. After densification at high temperature, the particle tap density increases from 3.30 to 4.18 g/cm³ and the initial oxidation temperature rises from 125 to 150°C.