Method for producing ceramic particles and agglomerates

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:873855

Phillips, Jonathan ^[1]; Gleiman, Seth S ^[1]; Chen, Chun-Ku ^[2]

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1. Santa Fe, NM
2. Albuquerque, NM

A method for generating spherical and irregularly shaped dense particles of ceramic oxides having a controlled particle size and particle size distribution. An aerosol containing precursor particles of oxide ceramics is directed into a plasma. As the particles flow through the hot zone of the plasma, they melt, collide, and join to form larger particles. If these larger particles remain in the hot zone, they continue melting and acquire a spherical shape that is retained after they exit the hot zone, cool down, and solidify. If they exit the hot zone before melting completely, their irregular shape persists and agglomerates are produced. The size and size distribution of the dense product particles can be controlled by adjusting several parameters, the most important in the case of powder precursors appears to be the density of powder in the aerosol stream that enters the plasma hot zone. This suggests that particle collision rate is responsible for determining ultimate size of the resulting sphere or agglomerate. Other parameters, particularly the gas flow rates and the microwave power, are also adjusted to control the particle size distribution.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Los Almos, NM)
• Patent Number(s): US 6261484
• OSTI ID: 873855
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
producing
ceramic
particles
agglomerates
generating
spherical
irregularly
shaped
dense
oxides
controlled
particle
size
distribution
aerosol
containing
precursor
oxide
ceramics
directed
plasma
flow
hot
zone
melt
collide
join
form
larger
remain
melting
acquire
shape
retained
exit
cool
solidify
completely
irregular
persists
produced
product
adjusting
parameters
powder
precursors
appears
density
stream
enters
suggests
collision
rate
responsible
determining
ultimate
resulting
sphere
agglomerate
particularly
gas
rates
microwave
power
adjusted
control
ceramic oxides
collision rate
irregularly shaped
spherical shape
hot zone
size distribution
flow rates
ceramic particles
gas flow
flow rate
particle size
microwave power
oxide ceramic
ceramic oxide
ceramic particle
larger particles
particles remain
form larger
controlled particle
producing ceramic
powder precursors
powder precursor
aerosol stream
dense particles
irregular shape
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