APPLICATION OF CAUCHY INTEGRAL TO APPROXIMATE THE FIELD COMPONENTS AND CURRENT IN METAL & DIELECTRICAL POLYGONS - Method of the Field (Current) Restoration Inside and Outside Flat Closed Contour based on Its Known Values at the Contour

A metal powder having a vitreous thin layer on at least a part of the surface thereof wherein the amount of the vitreous thin layer is preferably 0.01 to 50% by weight based on the metal powder without the vitreous thin layer. The metal powder is prepared by a process comprising the steps of: bringing a solution comprising a heat-decomposable metal compound to fine droplets; and heating the droplets to a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the metal compound, wherein a precursor of an oxide, heat-decomposable to produce a vitreous material which, together with the metal, does not form a solid solution, is added to the solution and the vitreous material is deposited, upon the heating, in the vicinity of the surface of the metal powder. The powder is useful for the preparation of a thick film paste used in a multilayer ceramic electronic component or substrate, since it has an excellent oxidation resistance during storage, in a conductor paste, and during firing of the paste.