Gallium-Based Metallic Pastes: Preparation from Powder Mixture by In Situ Synthesis of Liquid Component

The paper presents a method for the synthesis of metal pastes and diffusion-hardening alloys based on gallium by intensive vibrational mixing of powder components: solid gallium and a complex of filler powders. Using this method (with a specially selected fractional composition of powdered components), a series of samples of Cu–Ga–Sn alloys were obtained—one of the “classic” systems used (with various additives) as metal solder adhesives and dental filling materials. Structural, thermochemical (DSC), physical and mechanical properties, phase composition of initial and hardened samples are presented. When mixing, dosing and storing the components of the initial powder mixture, there is no noticeable segregation, contact-reactive melting of the components. The production of gallium pastes in this work includes the synthesis of the liquid metal component in situ, in the process of vibration treatment of the powder mixture. In addition to ease of use, this method, apparently, can provide new opportunities for the design of the structure of gallium pastes, putties, hard metal solder adhesives and filling materials.