TECHNOLOGIES & APPLICATIONS

ELECTRICAL EXPLOSION TECHNOLOGY FOR PRODUCTION OF NANOSIZED POWDERS

Purpose

Electron micrograph of particles of Al₂O₃ powder: 126,000x magnification.

The technology is intended for controllable production of highly dispersed powders of metals, alloys, and of chemical and intermetallic compounds of metals and alloys by the method of electrical explosion of conductors.

The method is based on the Joule heating of a conductor of a given material occurring on discharging a capacitor. Depending on the energy density delivered to the conductor, its material may be in any state from solid to vapor-plasma.

The fineness of the powder is readily controllable. When the input energy density is of the order of the sublimation energy, nanosized powders with the particle diameter below 50 nm.

The method, being ecologically safe and not energy-consuming, allows production of powders of pure metals and powders of chemical and intermetallic compounds with a narrow particle size distribution and an average particle size ~ 4-50 nm.

Histograms of the particle size distributions for some powders produced

Potential applications of powders

microelectronics
welding and soldering, low-temperature compounds for contacts
catalysts
sorbents
ferromagnetics
medicinal carriers
metal ceramics
dyes and pigments

Patenting

There are decisions for awarding patents of the Russian Federation for the applications (B 22F 9/14) No. 97100011/02 of 06/16/1977 (Method for production of highly dispersed powders) No. 97100011/47/02 of 01/16/1977 (Method for production of aluminum oxide powders) No. 97100049/02 of 01/16/1997 (Method for production of aluminum powders)

Development phase

Laboratory setups with a productivity of 20--200 g/h depending on the desired fineness and powder material have been built and currently in operation. The setups are capable of producing powders of pure metals and of chemical compounds based on copper, aluminum, titanium, platinum, iron, tungsten, indium, nickel, cobalt, and other metals as well as alloys.

Suggestions for collaboration

It is suggested to jointly bring the technology to an industrial level and to perform joint research work and co-patenting. Any mutually profitable counter-suggestion will be considered.

For further information please contact:

Valentin S. Sedoi
Dr. Sci. (Engineering), Senior Researcher
Phone: (3822) 49-13-48
Fax: (3822) 49-16-77

E-mail: sedoi@ovpe.hcei.tsc.ru

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