Process for manufacture of reacted metal nanoparticles
AssigneeAveka, Inc.
InventorsGary A. Pozarnsky, William A. Hendrickson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus prepares and collects metal nanoparticles by forming a vapor of aluminum or copper 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.
Claims25
A process of collecting reacted aluminum or copper metal nanoparticles comprising forming a vapor of aluminum or copper, the vapor of the aluminum or copper being provided into an inert gaseous carrying medium, solidifying at least some of the aluminum or copper within the gaseous stream, combining the aluminum or copper particles with a reactive gas medium, moving the aluminum or copper nanoparticles in a gaseous carrying environment through a dry mechanical pumping system, and while the particles are within the dry mechanical pumping system or after the nanoparticles have moved through the dry pumping system, contacting the aluminum or copper nanoparticles with an inert liquid collecting medium.
An apparatus for providing dispersions of ultrafine aluminum or copper particles having an average size of between 0.5 and 100 nanometers comprising:
- a) a source of vaporized aluminum or copper connected to a mechanical pump and a collection vessel, the source of vaporized aluminum or copper providing an stream of non-reactive gas flow away from the source and towards a mechanical pump;
- b) a source of aluminum or copper into the source of vaporized aluminum or copper;
- c) a source of non-reactive gas to carry aluminum or copper material towards the mechanical pump;
- d) a source of reactive vapor to react with solid aluminum or copper particles;
- e) a fluid source for a fluid to collect aluminum or copper particles and/or condense aluminum or copper vapor into nanoparticles;
- f) a mechanical pump for moving the non-reactive gas, reactive vapor, and aluminum or copper material and the fluid to collect aluminum or copper particles and/or condense aluminum or copper vapor into particles;
- and
- g) a contact zone for the i) non-reactive gas and aluminum or copper material and ii) the fluid to collect aluminum or copper particles and/or condense aluminum or copper vapor into particles;
- wherein the contact zone is within the mechanical pump or after the mechanical pump and the aluminum or copper particles are coated with reactive material or reacted with the reactive material.
A process of collecting reacted nanoparticles comprising forming a vapor of a aluminum or copper material that is solid at room temperature, the aluminum or copper vapor of the material being provided into an inert gaseous carrying medium, solidifying at least some of the material within the gaseous stream to form copper or aluminum particles, combining the material particles with a reactive gas medium and reacting the material particles with at least one ingredient in said reactive gas medium, moving the material nanoparticles in a gaseous carrying environment through a dry mechanical pumping system, and while the particles are within the dry mechanical pumping system or after the nanoparticles have moved through the dry pumping system, contacting the material nanoparticles with an inert liquid collecting medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.