Apparatus for producing nanoscale ceramic powders

A process for producing submicron-sized ceramic particles comprising the steps of:

• forming an intimate mixture comprising a ceramic precursor and an organic or carbonaceous carrier material;
• and
• delivering the mixture to a flame that is confined within a plurality of inclined surfaces, thereby exposing the mixture to a high temperature flame zone having substantially no edge regions to form substantially non-agglomerated ceramic particles.

A process for producing submicron-sized ceramic particles comprising the steps of:

• forming an intimate mixture comprising a ceramic precursor and an organic or carbonaceous carrier material;
• and
• delivering the mixture to a flame confined by a plurality of inclined surfaces to expose the mixture to a flame zone having uniformly high temperature and substantially no edge regions, thereby causing (i) combustion of the carrier material, (ii) vaporization and oxidation of the ceramic precursor and nucleation of the ceramic particles, or diffusion of the ceramic precursor away from the carrier material and oxidation, and (iii) formation of substantially non-agglomerated ceramic particles.

A process for producing submicron-sized ceramic particles comprising the steps of:

• forming an intimate mixture comprising a ceramic precursor and an organic or carbonaceous carrier material;
• and
• exposing the mixture to a high temperature flame zone having substantially no edge regions to form substantially non-agglomerated ceramic particles.