ABSTRACT
Pulsed electrical exploding wire (PEEW) for production of various kinds of nanopowders is a well-known method. In this chapter, development of a PEEW system for production of copper nano powder is discussed. 420The pulsed power system that is used in this experiment consist of a High voltage (HV) energy storage capacitor of rating 10 pF, 20 kV; an ignitrón switch with driver circuit, controls and related HV charger. The Capacitor is charged up to 8 kV and it is discharged through the ignitron switch into the copper wire. The voltage and the current are measured by HV probe and a current transformer respectively. Copper wires of which, the two ends are connected to two metallic rods to the pulsed power input are placed inside an evacuated chamber. After discharge, the wires are exploded, melted, and condensed in collision with ambient air forming tiny particles of copper wire. Collection of nano particles produced is thereby done at the bottom of the chamber. A special arrangement is done to fix multiple copper wires inside the chamber and discharge it one by one without breaking the vacuum. The collected copper particles are observed in SEM, which shows formation of nano-sized particles.
