Sintering characteristics of nano-sized Ag–Pd–glass composite powders with high Pd content

Nano-sized Ag–Pd (50–50) alloy powders coated with Pb-based glass material with low and high glass transition temperature are directly prepared by high-temperature flame spray pyrolysis. Nano-sized Ag–Pd–glass composite powder is formed from the evaporated vapors by nucleation and growth process, and then glass material moves out to the outside of the powder by crystallization process of alloy. The thickness of the glass coating layer measured from the TEM image is 2.8 nm. The mass changes of the Ag–Pd alloy and Ag–Pd–glass composite powders in the TG analysis under 900 °C are 10.9 and 6.8%, respectively. Glass materials improve the uniformity and density of the Ag–Pd electrode layers by act as sintering agent and adhesion improvement. The Ag–Pd electrode formed from the composite powders with high glass transition temperature glass material has thin and uniform thickness. The specific resistances of the electrodes formed from the nano-sized Ag–Pd–glass composite powders are 0.27, 0.09, and 0.03 mΩ cm at firing temperatures of 700, 800, and 900 °C, respectively.