Method for producing metallic microparticles
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsJonathan Phillips, William L. Perry, William J. Kroenke
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Abstract
Method for producing metallic particles. The method converts metallic nanoparticles into larger, spherical metallic particles. An aerosol of solid metallic nanoparticles and a non-oxidizing plasma having a portion sufficiently hot to melt the nanoparticles are generated. The aerosol is directed into the plasma where the metallic nanoparticles melt, collide, join, and spheroidize. The molten spherical metallic particles are directed away from the plasma and enter the afterglow where they cool and solidify.
Claims13
A method for converting metallic nanoparticles into larger, spherical metallic particles, comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating an aerosol comprising solid metallic precursor nanoparticles entrained in plasma gas;
- (b) generating a non-oxidizing plasma from plasma gas, the plasma comprising a portion sufficiently hot to melt the solid metallic precursor nanoparticles;
- (c) directing the aerosol into the plasma and allowing the solid precursor metallic nanoparticles to melt, collide, join, and spheroidize to form larger molten, spherical, metallic particles;
- and
- (d) directing the molten, spherical, metallic microparticles away from the plasma so that they solidify and form larger, metallic, spherical, product particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.