Method and apparatus for making a fine powder compound of a metal and another element

A method of making a fine powder of a metal and a second element in an intimate mutual relation, which comprises:

• passing said metal in a gaseous form through a first convergent-divergent nozzle and thereby rapidly cooling said metal in gaseous form by adiabatic expansion;
• mixing said metal in gaseous form with said second element in a gaseous state;
• and
• passing a resultant mixture of said metal and second element in gaseous form through a second convergent-divergent nozzle and rapidly cooling said mixture by adiabatic expansion.

An apparatus for making a fine powder of a metal and a second element in an intimate mutual relation, comprising:

• a reaction chamber for containing a source of metal vapor;
• means for heating said reaction chamber;
• means for introducing gas into said reaction chamber;
• a condensation chamber;
• and
• a convergent-divergent nozzle leading from said reaction chamber to said condensation chamber.

A method for making a fine powder of a metal and a second element in an intimate mutual relation which utilizes a reaction chamber for containing a source of metal vapor, means for heating said reaction chamber, means for introducing gas into said reaction chamber, a condensation chamber, and a convergent-divergent nozzle leading from said reaction chamber to said condensation chamber, which further comprises:

• introducing said metal into said reaction chamber;
• heating said metal by the operation of said heating means so as to be boiled into a vapor;
• introducing said second element in a gaseous state into said reaction chamber via said means for introducing gas, and mixing said second element with said metal vapor;
• and
• passing the mixture of said metallic vapor and said second element through said convergent-divergent nozzle into said condensation chamber and thereby rapidly cooling said mixture by adiabatic expansion.

An apparatus for making a fine powder of a metal and another element in an intimate mutual relation, comprising:

• a first reaction chamber for containing a source of metal vapor;
• first means for heating said first reaction chamber;
• a second reaction chamber for containing a source of metal vapor;
• first means for introducing gas into said second reaction chamber;
• a condensation chamber;
• a first convergent-divergent nozzle leading from said first reaction chamber to said second reaction chamber;
• and
• a second convergent-divergent nozzle leading from said second reaction chamber to said condensation chamber.

An method for making a fine powder of a metal and a second element in an intimate mutual relation, utilizing an apparatus which includes a first reaction chamber for containing a source of metal vapor, first means for heating the reaction chamber, a second reaction chamber for containing the source of metal vapor, first means for introducing gas into the second reaction chamber, a condensation chamber, a first convergent-divergent nozzle leading from said first reaction chamber to said second reaction chamber, and a second convergent-divergent nozzle leading from said second reaction chamber to said condensation chamber, which comprises:

• introducing said metal into said first reaction chamber;
• heating said metal by operation of said first heating means so as to be boiled into a vapor;
• passing said vapor through said first convergent-divergent nozzle into said second reaction chamber and thereby rapidly cooling said vapor by adiabatic expansion;
• introducing said second element in a gaseous phase into said second reaction chamber via said first gas introduction means;
• mixing said second element with said metal vapor in an at least partially condensed state in said second reaction chamber;
• and
• passing a mixture of said second element and said metal vapor through said second convergent-divergent nozzle and into said condensation chamber and thereby rapidly cooling said mixture by adiabatic expansion.

A method for making a fine powder of a metal and a second element in an intimate mutual relation, utilizing an apparatus which includes a first reaction chamber for containing a source of metal vapor, first means for heating said first reaction chamber, a second reaction chamber for containing the source of metal vapor, first means for introducing gas into said second reaction chamber, a condensation chamber, a first convergent-divergent nozzle leading from said first reaction chamber to said second reaction chamber, and a second convergent-divergent nozzle leading from said second reaction chamber to said condensation chamber, which comprises:

• introducing said metal into said first reaction chamber;
• heating said metal by operation of said first heating means so as to be boiled into a vapor;
• introducing said second element in a gaseous state into said first reaction chamber via said second gas introduction means
• mixing said second element with said metal vapor to form a mixture;
• passing said mixture of said metal vapor and said second elememt through said first convergent-divergent nozzle and into said second reaction chamber and thereby rapidly cooling said mixture by adiabatic expansion;
• and
• passing said mixture through said second convergent-divergent nozzle into said condensation chamber and thereby again being rapidly cooling said mixture by adiabatic expansion.

A method for making a fine powder of a metal and a second element in an intimate mutual relation, utilizing an apparatus which includes a first reaction chamber for containing a source of metal vapor, first means for heating said first reaction chamber, a second reaction chamber for containing the source of metal vapor, first means for introducing gas into the second reaction chamber, a condensation chamber, a first convergent-divergent nozzle leading from said first reaction chamber to said second reaction chamber, and a second convergent-divergent nozzle leading from said second reaction chamber to said condensation chamber, which comprises:

• introducing said metal into said first reaction chamber;
• heating said metal by operation of said first heating means so as to be boiled into a vapor;
• introducing said second element in a gaseous state into said first reaction chamber via said second gas introduction means;
• mixing said second element with said metal vapor
• passing said mixture of said metal vapor and said second element through said first convergent-divergent nozzle into said second reaction chamber and thereby rapidly cooling said mixture by adiabatic expansion;
• introducing a gas supply into said second reaction chamber via said first gas introduction means;
• mixing said metal vapor and said second element in an at least partially condensed state therein;
• and
• passing said mixture through said second convergent-divergent nozzle into said condensation chamber and thereby again rapidly cooling said mixture by adiabatic expansion.