Method of making metal flakes

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of making metal flakes by low- or high-kinetic milling, also known as mechanical alloying. The object of the invention is to further improve such a known method such that it is also suitable for making metal flakes having improved properties. The object is attained according to the invention in that at least one further alloying additive is provided in addition to a metal base material, and that making the metal flakes is carried out by kinetic milling of the base material together with the at least one alloying additive such that the base material and the alloying additive are mechanically alloyed with each other.

1 . A method of making metal flakes, comprising the following steps:
 providing a metal base material;   providing an additive alloyable with but different from the base material; and   simultaneously kinetic milling the base material and the alloying additive such that the base material and the alloying additive are mechanically alloyed with each other.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the base material is aluminum, nickel, copper palladium, silver, gold, lead, titanium, iron, cobalt, zinc, or molybdenum. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the base metal is a metallic alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the base material or the alloying additive for the kinetic milling process is a water- or gas-atomized powder. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the alloying additive is aluminum, nickel, copper, palladium, silver, gold, lead, titanium, iron, cobalt, zinc, or molybdenum; an oxide; a carbide; a nitride, carbon nano tubes; fiber glass or Kevlar fibers; or a polymer; or any desired combination of two or more of these components. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the kinetic milling is a high- or low-energy kinetic milling. 
     
     
         7 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the alloying additive is polytetrafluorethylene. 
     
     
         8 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the base material or the additive is a pure metal. 
     
     
         9 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the base material is a pure metal. 
     
     
         10 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein both the base material and the additive are a pure metal. 
     
     
         11 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein both the base material and the additive are fine powders.