Characteristics of copper powder obtained at lower values of cathode current density

This paper presents the influence of cathode current density on physical and chemical characteristics of electrolytic copper powder. The experiments were carried out on apparatus of semi-industrial size. During each experiment, powder was deposited on copper cathode bases of the comb shape. Deposited copper powder was shaking off from cathodes on each 20 min. The concentration of Cu2+ ion and H2SO4 in the electrolyte was kept in the next range: 5-8 g Cu/dm3 and 130-160 gH2SO4/dm3. The working electrolyte temperature was in the range 50±2 oC. The electrolytic flow was 0.5 dm3/min and the time duration of each experiment was 4 h. The influence of cathode current density on copper powder physical and chemical characteristics was investigated for the following values: 500, 750, and 1000 A/m2 and obtained values are compared with the values obtained on current density of 2000 and 3000 A/m2. Content of copper in copper powder is highest for next values of cathode current density: 500 and 750 A/m2. The results of sieve analysis have pointed out a high content of particles finer than 45 µm, even 80%. Values for apparent density are in the range 0.5-0.8 g/cm3, which is another evidence of very fine powders.