Process and apparatus for the production of nanometer-sized powders

An apparatus for producing nanometer-scaled powders from a metal, said apparatus comprising

• (a) a first-stage heating and atomizing means, comprising
• heating means for melting said metal and super-heating said metal melt to a temperature at least 1000 degrees Kelvin above the melting point of said metal;
• atomizing means in atomizing relation to said metal melt for breaking up said super-heated metal melt into fine liquid droplets;
• (b) a second-stage atomizing means having an atomizer chamber disposed a distance from said first-stage atomizing means for receiving said super-heated metal liquid droplets therefrom, said second-stage atomizing means further comprising
• a supply of a pressurized fluid medium disposed a distance from said atomizer chamber;
• a jet nozzle in flow communication with both said atomizer chamber and said supply of a pressurized fluid medium;
• said nozzle comprising on one side in-let pipe means for receiving said fluid medium from said supply and on another side a discharge orifice of a predetermined size and shape or a multiplicity of orifices through which said pressurized fluid medium is dispensed into said atomizer chamber to impinge upon said super-heated metal liquid droplets for further breaking said liquid droplets down to being substantially nanometer-sized;
• and
• (c) cooling means in temperature-controlling relation to said atomizer chamber to facilitate solidification of said droplets therein for forming nanometer-sized solid powders.