Metal powder particles
AssigneeThe Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
InventorsCsilla Miko, Jean-Luc Bazin
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Abstract
A method for surface treatment of a metal material in a powder state is provided, the method including obtaining a powder formed from a plurality of particles of the metal material to be treated; and subjecting the powder to an ion implantation process by directing a beam of singly-charged or multi-charged ions towards an outer surface of the particles, the beam being produced by a source of singly-charged or multi-charged ions, whereby the particles have an overall spherical shape with a radius (R). There is also provided a material in a powder state formed from a plurality of particles having a ceramic outer layer and a metal core, the particles having an overall spherical shape.
Claims6
A material in a powder state formed from a plurality of particles having a ceramic outer layer and a metal core, the particles having an overall spherical shape with a radius (R), the ceramic outer layer comprising a ceramic material corresponding to a carbide or a nitride of a metal of which the metal core of the particles is made, a concentration of the ceramic material increasing from an outer surface of the particles to a given depth of the particles beyond which the concentration of the ceramic material decreases and becomes zero.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.