Method of making polymer powders and whiskers as well as particulate products of the method and atomizing apparatus

Patent · Tue Jan 09 00:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:873484

Otaigbe, Joshua U ^[1]; McAvoy, Jon M ^[2]; Anderson, Iver E ^[1]; Ting, Jason ^[1]; Mi, Jia ^[3]; Terpstra, Robert ^[1]

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1. Ames, IA
2. Moline, IL
3. Pittsburgh, PA

Method for making polymer particulates, such as spherical powder and whiskers, by melting a polymer material under conditions to avoid thermal degradation of the polymer material, atomizing the melt using gas jet means in a manner to form atomized droplets, and cooling the droplets to form polymer particulates, which are collected for further processing. Atomization parameters can be controlled to produce polymer particulates with controlled particle shape, particle size, and particle size distribution. For example, atomization parameters can be controlled to produce spherical polymer powders, polymer whiskers, and combinations of spherical powders and whiskers. Atomizing apparatus also is provided for atoomizing polymer and metallic materials.

• Research Organization: Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc. (Ames, IA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6171433
• Application Number: 08/895645
• OSTI ID: 873484
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
polymer
powders
whiskers
particulate
products
atomizing
apparatus
particulates
spherical
powder
melting
material
conditions
avoid
thermal
degradation
melt
gas
jet
means
manner
form
atomized
droplets
cooling
collected
processing
atomization
parameters
controlled
produce
particle
shape
size
distribution
example
combinations
provided
atoomizing
metallic
materials
metallic materials
metallic material
gas jet
size distribution
particle size
atomized droplets
polymer material
thermal degradation
atomizing apparatus
controlled particle
polymer powder
spherical powder
form poly
produce polymer
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