Ag-Pd (85:15) alloy and Ag-Pd-glass composite powders comprising spherical particles with dense structures were prepared directly by spray pyrolysis at 1100 degrees C. The mean sizes of the Ag-Pd alloy and Ag-Pd-glass composite powders were 1.1 and 0.9 mu m, respectively, and the crystal phases of the Ag-Pd and Ag-Pd-glass composite powders had alloy compositions. Ag-Pd conductive films formed from the Ag-Pd-glass composite powders had a denser structure than did those formed from the Ag-Pd alloy powders. The shrinkage of the conductive films formed from the Ag-Pd-glass composite powders was 25.9% and 58.6% at firing temperatures of 550 degrees C and 800 degrees C, respectively. The specific resistances of the conductive films formed from the Ag-Pd-glass composite powders were found to be as low as 12.7 mu Omega cm and 4.9 mu Omega cm at firing temperatures of 550 degrees C and 800 degrees C, respectively. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.