Process for the manufacture of metal nanoparticle
AssigneeAveka, Inc.
InventorGary A. Pozarnsky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus prepares and collects aluminum and copper metal nanoparticles by forming a vapor of a metal that is solid at room temperature, the vapor of the metal being provided in an inert gaseous carrying medium. At least some of the metal is solidified within the gaseous stream. The gaseous stream and metal material is moved in a gaseous carrying environment into or through a dry mechanical pumping system. While the particles are within the dry mechanical pumping system or after the nanoparticles have moved through the dry pumping system, the vaporized metal material and nanoparticles are contacted with an inert liquid collecting medium.
Claims18
A process of collecting aluminum and copper metal nanoparticles comprising forming a vapor of aluminum and copper, the vapor of the aluminum and copper being provided into an inert gaseous carrying medium, solidifying at least some of the aluminum and copper within the gaseous stream to form aluminum and copper nanoparticles, moving the aluminum and copper nanoparticles in a gaseous carrying environment through a dry mechanical pumping system, and while the aluminum and copper nanoparticles are within the dry mechanical pumping system or after the nanoparticles have moved through the dry pumping system, contacting the aluminum and copper nanoparticles with an inert liquid collecting medium.
The process of claim 10 wherein the aluminum and copper nanoparticles are also collected by physical filtration.
The process of claim 11 wherein a vacuum system is installed to provide additional driving force to collect nanoparticles by physical filtration.
An apparatus for providing dispersions of ultrafine aluminum and copper particles having an average size of between 0.5 and 100 nanometers comprising:
- a) a source of vaporized aluminum and copper metal connected to a mechanical pump and a collection vessel, the source of vaporized aluminum and copper metal providing an stream of non-reactive gas flow away from the source and towards a mechanical pump;
- b) a source of aluminum and copper into the source of vaporized metal;
- c) a source of non-reactive gas to carry metal material towards the mechanical pump;
- d) a fluid source for a fluid to collect metal particles and/or condense metal vapor into nanoparticles;
- e) a mechanical pump for moving the non-reactive gas with metal material and the fluid to collect metal particles and/or condense metal vapor into particles;
- and
- f) a contact zone for the i) non-reactive gas and metal material and ii) the fluid to collect metal particles and/or condense metal vapor into particles;
- wherein the contact zone is within the mechanical pump or after the mechanical pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.