Palladium-containing particles, method and apparatus of manufacture, palladium-containing devices made therefrom

A particulate product having an alloy including palladium and silver and having resistance to oxidation of palladium in the product, the particulate product comprising:

• particles including a metallic phase of an alloy including palladium and silver, said alloy having from about 10 weight percent to about 70 weight percent palladium and from about 10 weight percent to about 90 weight percent silver, said particles having a weight average size of from about 0.1 micron to about 3 microns;
• said particles having a resistance to oxidation of palladium in said particles such that when said particles are heated in an atmosphere of industrial grade air at atmospheric pressure to a temperature of 900.degree. C. at a heating rate of 10.degree. C. per minute during thermogravimetric analysis, said particles demonstrate a maximum weight gain of no greater than about 40 percent relative to a theoretical weight gain from complete oxidation of said palladium in said particles;
• and
• said metallic phase is a first material phase and said particles also include a second material phase being substantially free of palladium and including a dielectric material.