US Patent 7691175 Granular metal powder

When fine metal particles of a nanometer size are handled in a state of colloidal particles, it is difficult to handle them and the range of the selection of the solvent to be used is limited. The invention offers a granular metal powder that is produced by the steps of (a) preparing a suspension liquid comprising (a1) water, an organic solvent, or a mixture thereof, (a2) metal particles having an average particle diameter of at least 1 nm and at most 100 nm, and (a3) an organic compound capable of being adsorbed on the surface of the metal particles and (b) removing the water, organic solvent, or mixture thereof by drying the suspension liquid and that has an apparent density of at least 1.0 g/ml and at most 5.0 g/ml. The granular metal powder can be handled as a dry metal powder and is readily redispersed in a solvent.