Water Atomization vs. Gas Atomization: Performance Divergence and Application Scenarios Behind the Classification Logic of Atomized Copper Powder

Bosi Data released an industry analysis of atomized copper powder on October 30, 2026, breaking down the classification logic of atomized copper powder along two process routes: water atomization and gas atomization. Water atomization uses high-pressure water jets to break up molten copper streams, typically yielding oxygen content of 0.15%–0.40% and mostly irregular or near-spherical particles. Gas atomization uses inert gas as the medium, producing high sphericity and low oxygen content, making it suitable for additive manufacturing and high-end electronic pastes, though at higher cost. The report divides end-use scenarios into two categories: powder metallurgy and friction materials grade, and electronic paste and photovoltaic grade. The former competes on compressibility, cost, and batch stability, while the latter is constrained by oxygen content, sphericity, and particle size distribution. MLCC electrodes and HJT silver-coated copper cores are two application outlets with clear incremental growth. On the industrialization front, Zhongke Tongdu has advanced the engineering of atomized copper alloy powders since 2002, developed an ultrafine spherical powder series in 2005, and led the drafting of the nonferrous industry standard "Atomized Copper Powder." Huasun's HJT route has reduced silver consumption to 5.5 mg/W through silver-coated copper, and Tongwei's silver-coated copper paste front-side silver content has fallen to 25%. 2026 is seen as a key window for copper-for-silver substitution to move from validation to scale-up. As the main powder material for silver-coated copper cores and copper paste, atomized copper powder's low-oxygen spherical powder supply capability is being re-examined by downstream users under stricter specifications. Powder metallurgy remains the largest-volume scenario but is growing slowly. The pace of scale-up in electronic pastes and photovoltaic copper-for-silver substitution depends on the commercialization progress of downstream paste technology routes, not on atomization capacity itself.