A STUDY ON PREPARATION OF COBALT METAL-POWDER

A number of cobalt salts such as oxide, chloride, sulphate and oxalate were examined for the preparation of cobalt metal powder, for its application as binder material in the production of cemented carbide tools. The optimum operating conditions were established with each of the cobalt salt. The reduction temperature was found to be of increasing order for oxalate, chloride, sulphate and oxide respectively. The metal powders produced from these intermediates were of comparable purity. The oxalate intermediate was found to be most suited for yielding cobalt metal powder of size less than 2 mu m and morphology of interconnected chain of rounded shape particles required for its application as a binder in the production of cemented carbide tools. Starting with cobalt sulphate, the preparative technique for right duality oxalate for its subsequent conversion to cobalt powder had also been standardized.