Methods and apparatus for producing nanometer scale particles utilizing an electrosterically stabilized slurry in a media mill

A media mill apparatus configured for producing nanometer scale particles comprising:

• a milling chamber;
• an agitator extending into the milling chamber;
• a milling media disposed within the milling chamber;
• a feed substrate suspension comprising a liquid carrier medium and feed substrate particles, and disposed within the milling chamber and interspersed with the milling media wherein the feed substrate particles comprise organic solids, glass, graphene, metals, ores, silica, diatomaceous earth, clays, organic pigments, pharmaceutical materials, or carbon black;
• and
• an electrosteric dispersant to separate the feed substrate particles in the feed substrate suspension in order to improve spacing of the feed substrate particles comprising a polyelectrolyte mixed within the feed substrate suspension,
• wherein the agitator is configured to apply mechanical work to the milling media for a period of time, thereby causing the milling media to comminute the feed substrate particles to form nanometer scale particles having a (D90) particle size of less than one micron.

A method for producing nanometer scale particles in a media mill comprising a milling media, the method comprising:

• providing a media mill;
• adding to the media mill a feed substrate suspension, wherein the feed substrate suspension comprises a liquid carrier medium and feed substrate particles;
• adding to the feed substrate suspension in the media mill an electrosteric dispersant to separate the feed substrate particles in the feed substrate suspension in order to improve spacing of the feed substrate particles, wherein the electrosteric dispersant comprises a polyelectrolyte, wherein the polyelectrolyte comprises at least one of:
• alkylammonium salts of polymers and copolymers, polymers and copolymers having acidic groups, functionalized comb copolymers and block copolymers, modified acrylate block copolymers, modified polyurethanes, modified and/or salified polyamines, phosphoric polyesters, polyethoxylates, polymers and copolymers having fatty acid radicals, modified polyesters polyphosphates, or a mixture thereof;
• operating the media mill for a period of time to comminute the feed substrate particles, thereby forming nanometer scale particles having a (D90) particle size of less than one micron;
• and
• recirculating for further grinding the nanometer scale particles from the media mill.