Methods for nanofunctionalization of powders, and nanofunctionalized materials produced therefrom

A composition comprising a nanofunctionalized metal powder, said composition comprising:

• (a) metal particles containing titanium;
• and
• (b) nanoparticles containing one or more elements selected from the group consisting of zirconium, tantalum, niobium, titanium, and oxides, nitrides, hydrides, carbides, or borides thereof, and combinations of the foregoing,
• wherein said nanoparticles are present at a concentration of at least 0.1 vol % in said nanofunctionalized metal powder,
• wherein said nanoparticles are disposed chemically or physically on at least 90% of the surface area of said surfaces of said metal particles, and
• wherein said nanoparticles are lattice-matched to within ±5% of said metal particles.

A nanofunctionalized metal powder produced by a process comprising:

• (a) providing metal particles containing titanium;
• (b) providing nanoparticles containing one or more elements selected from the group consisting of zirconium, tantalum, niobium, titanium, and oxides, nitrides, carbides, or borides thereof, and combinations of the foregoing, wherein said nanoparticles are lattice-matched to within ±5% of said metal particles;
• (c) disposing said nanoparticles onto surfaces of said metal particles, in the presence of mixing media, thereby generating nanofunctionalized metal particles;
• and
• (d) isolating and recovering said nanofunctionalized metal particles as a nanofunctionalized metal powder.