The differences between ultra-fine aluminium powder and leafing aluminium powder.

Do you know the differences between ultra-fine aluminium powder and leafing aluminum powder? It is well-known that ultra-fine aluminium powder is the main raw material for electrical and electronic industries, and is also a widely used precious metallic powder in electronic industries. The appearance of leafing aluminium powder can vary from rough and white to highly reflective, producing a chrome-plating effect depending on the particle size. So, what are the differences between ultra-fine aluminium powder and leafing aluminium powder? Let's have a look together.

There are three aspects to understanding the differences between ultra-fine aluminium powder and leafing aluminium powder.

Firstly, the definition is different. Ultra-fine aluminium powder mainly refers to nano-level leafing aluminium powder, which has various particle shapes such as spherical, dendritic, flake, cubic, and microcrystalline. Its special structure gives it physical and chemical properties that traditional materials do not have, such as small size effect, quantum size effect, surface effect, and macroscopic quantum tunneling effect. Leafing aluminium powder is mainly made from atomized aluminium powder, solvent oil, and stearic acid, with a relatively low density and good opacity.

Secondly, the manufacturing process is different. The production process of ultra-fine aluminium powder mainly includes gas phase, liquid phase, and solid phase methods. Gas phase method has high cost, high energy consumption, and low output; liquid phase chemical reduction method is a commonly used low-cost method for small-scale production of ultra-fine aluminium powder; solid phase method produces ultra-fine aluminium powder with a larger particle size and a wider particle size distribution range. In the ball milling stage, stearic acid or other saturated fatty acids are used as lubricants for leafing aluminium powder, which make the aluminium flakes hydrophobic and oil-repellent.

Thirdly, the application is different. Ultra-fine aluminium powder has a wide range of applications, mainly in chemical and fireworks industries. Leafing aluminium powder is mainly used in roof coatings, maintenance, anti-corrosion coatings, reflective coatings, and chrome-plating effect coatings that have high protective requirements.

The above mentioned is all about “the differences between ultra-fine aluminium powder and leafing aluminium powder”. Hope it helps you understand the differences between the two. Stay tuned for more content next time!