Research Initiation: Controlled Synthesis of Multi-ComponentUltrafine Ceramic Powders

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Advances in ceramic materials hinge in a critical fashion on the initial powder characteristics. Specifically, the requirements are: small particle size (nanometer range), narrow size distribution and high purity. For practical/economical reasons a continuous, as opposed to batch, generation process, is preferable. To fulfill the required powder characteristics maximum control over the fundamental physical and chemical processes during particle formation is needed. The work addresses all these requirements, and offers a system for continuous and controlled generation of fine multi-component ceramic powders. The generation of the particles is done in the vapor phase from gaseous and liquid reactants. The reactor is a multi-stream inverted H2/O2/invert diffusion flame. Electric fields are used to control particle size via control of coagulation and residence time. The powder characteristics will be measured in-situ with optical (non-intrusive) techniques. The work will include: demonstration of principle; mapping the domain of the controlling parameters; comparing results with theoretical models and their modification; and examination of closed loop process control strategies based on the in-situ powder measurements.