Functional metal powders: Design, properties, applications, and prospects

Functional metal powders have unique thermal, electrical, biocompatible and flame retardant properties. Due to the superior material properties and low cost of engineering materials produced from functional metal powders, these materials have a high potential for use in aerospace, electronics industry, coating sector, energy and many other industries. In this paper, the research progress of functional metal powders, the preparation of functional metal powders and application. In light of the above, the processing methods of functional metal powders were discussed, including mechanical ball milling, liquid-phase chemical reduction, electrochemical reduction and gas-phase reduction. Additionally, the classification of functional metal powders is discussed, including silver, copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc and gold based powders. On this basis, its applications in powder metallurgy, 3D printing, electromagnetic shielding, 5G base station, electronic industry are mainly introduced. Moreover, the development prospects, new opportunities, main challenges and possible solutions of functional metal powders are summarized.