Powder treatment for enhanced flowability
AssigneeSDCmaterials, Inc.
InventorDavid Leamon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of enhancing the flowability of a powder. The powder is defined by a plurality of particles having an initial level of inter-particle forces between each particle. The method comprises: treating the powder, wherein the level of inter-particle forces between each particle is substantially decreased from the initial level; fluidizing the treated powder; flowing the treated powder into a plasma arc chamber; the plasma arc chamber generating a plasma arc; and the plasma arc chamber operating on the treated powder using the generated plasma arc. Preferably, the inter-particle forces are decreased by coating the particles with an organic surfactant.
Claims27
A method of enhancing the flowability of a powder to produce nanoparticles, the powder defined by a plurality of particles having an initial level of inter-particle forces between each particle, the method comprising:
- coating the powder with an organic material, wherein the level of inter-particle forces between each particle is substantially decreased from the initial level;
- fluidizing the coated powder;
- flowing the coated powder into a plasma arc chamber;
- the plasma arc chamber generating a plasma arc;
- the generated plasma arc vaporizing the coated powder
- in order to nano-size the powder to produce nanoparticles.
A method of enhancing the flowability of a powder to produce nanoparticles, the powder defined by a plurality of particles having an initial level of inter-particle forces between each particle, the method comprising:
- disposing the powder in a solvent within a container, wherein the solvent comprises an organic material;
- coating the plurality of particles with the organic material;
- separating substantially all of the remaining solvent from the coated powder, wherein the level of inter-particle forces between each particle is substantially decreased from the initial level;
- fluidizing the coated powder;
- flowing the coated powder into a plasma arc chamber;
- the plasma arc chamber generating a plasma arc;
- the generated plasma arc vaporizing the coated powder;
- and
- in order to nano-size the powder to produce nanoparticles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.