Tungsten nanopowders were produced by the method of wires electrical explosion in the different gases. The study of phase and dispersed composition of the powders was carried out. The influence of electrical parameters such as the value of energy input in wire and the arc stage of the explosion was discussed. The factors that make for decreasing the particles size are the lower pressure of surrounding gas and the use of addition of chemically reactive gas.

The feasibility of obtaining highly dispersed aluminum oxide powders by the electrical explosion of aluminum conductors in an inert gas atmosphere and the subsequent oxidation of aluminum particles by water prior to their contact with air is demonstrated. For a specific surface area of the initial aluminum powder of 6.5/g, the corresponding specific surface area of the resultant aluminum oxide nanopowder was as large as 300/g.