Effects of Arc Parameters on Synthesis of Sb_2Te_3 Thermoelectric Powders
Taking elemental antimony and tellurium powders as raw material,Sb2Te3 powders were successfully prepared by vacuum arc plasma evaporation technique.The raw materials were heated,evaporated and formed on the surface of collecting device by reacting.The microstructure of the samples was characterized via field emission scanning electron microscope(FESEM).The effects of arc current and argon gas pressure on average particle size and yield rate of Sb2Te3 powders were investigated.The results show that,as the arc current increases in the range of 100～175 A,the average particle size and yield rate of Sb2Te3 powders increases.As the argon gas pressure increases in the range of 2～8 kPa,the average particle size and yield rate of the powders increase,and powder agglomeration is also obvious.