Method and apparatus for direct electrothermal-physical conversion of ceramic into nanopowder
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
United States of America Patent
Stats
-
Oct 29, 2002
Grant Date -
N/A
app pub date -
Sep 15, 1999
filing date -
Sep 15, 1999
priority date (Note) -
Expired
status (Latency Note)
Importance
Abstract
A method of producing nanocrystalline ceramic powder by creating a plasma stream in a reactor vessel, and physically converting a ceramic precursor material into ceramic particles suspended in the vessel, using the plasma stream. A metallic reactant may additionally be introduced into the vessel using the plasma stream, wherein the metallic reactant forms ceramic particles having the same composition as the ceramic particles of the physical converting step. The plasma stream is created using an electrothermal gun. The gun may use a ceramic barrel which is eroded by the plasma stream. Alternatively (or additionally), the ceramic precursor material may be injected as particulates into the plasma stream, wherein the ceramic precursor particulates are micron-sized or larger. A novel electrothermal gun design may optionally use a replaceable insert constructed of the ceramic precursor material.
First Claim
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