Method and apparatus for direct electrothermal-physical conversion of ceramic into nanopowder

A system for producing nanosized powder, comprising:

• an electrothermal gun having a barrel with electrically insulated breech and muzzle electrodes, the barrel comprising a first precursor material, and the muzzle electrode comprising a second precursor material;
• a reactor vessel adjacent to the muzzle electrode;
• means for applying a voltage to the electrically insulated electrodes prior to initiating an ionizing arc between the electrodes;
• wherein
• a plasma stream is created directly from at least some of the precursor material and nanosized particles are produced from the plasma stream in said reactor vessel.

A method of producing nanosized particles, comprising the steps of:

• providing breech electrode, a muzzle electrode, an insulated barrel between the electrodes, and a reactor atmosphere adjacent to the muzzle electrode;
• applying a voltage between the electrically insulated electrodes prior to initiating an ionizing arc between the electrodes;
• creating a plasma stream directly from a precursor material by ablating the muzzle electrode;
• and
• converting the plasma stream into nanosized particles in the reactor atmosphere.

A system for producing nanosized particles, comprising:

• a barrel with a breech electrode and a muzzle electrode;
• a reactor vessel adjacent to the muzzle electrode;
• a first state wherein the electrodes are electrically insulated when no power is applied between the electrodes;
• a second state wherein the electrodes are electrically connected when a voltage is applied between the electrodes prior to initiating an ionizing arc to create a plasma stream;
• and wherein
• the plasma stream interacts with an atmosphere in the reactor vessel to convert the plasma stream into nanosized particles.