SBIR Phase II: A Process for Preparing Nanometer-Sized Ceramic Particles at High Production Rates

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）二期项目将开发并商业化一项新技术，以大幅降低成本大规模生产纳米级陶瓷粉末。这项名为“联合雾化与反应技术”（CART）的技术涉及提供一种含有氢、氧、碳、氮、氯、氟、硼或硫等反应物元素的雾化气体介质；制备一种金属合金熔体，将其过热至可使合金与所选反应物元素发生自维持反应的自发反应温度；并引入反应物气体与临界过热合金熔体同时混合、雾化、反应，在雾化室中形成超细陶瓷颗粒。这个第二阶段的项目将设计和建造一个原型试验规模的CART设备，以证明该技术应用于合成纳米级氧化物的商业可行性，被认为是具有最大的商业潜力的选定金属。超细粉末的商业潜力在于生产催化剂、涂料和薄膜、导电浆料、化妆品、电磁元件、电子器件、阻燃材料、磁流体、烧结和注塑件、陶瓷复合材料、磁存储介质、荧光粉、颜料、抛光介质和调色剂。铟锡氧化物（ITO）粉末用于制备用于平板显示技术的透明薄膜沉积的溅射靶。纳米颗粒材料可用于替代汽车、基础设施、海洋结构、管道、集装箱、电子设备外壳等各种承重和非结构部件。纳米陶瓷和陶瓷是优秀的刀具材料。透明纳米颗粒陶瓷可用于广泛的应用，包括透明陶瓷电器组件，透明“玻璃器皿”和艺术品。透明陶瓷还可用于执法、安全警察和装甲车人员的防弹装甲。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop and commercialize a new technology for mass producing nanometer-sized ceramic powders at dramatically reduced costs. The technology, Combined Atomization and Reaction Technique (CART), involves providing an atomizing gas medium containing a reactant element such as hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, chlorine, fluorine, boron, or sulfur; preparing a metal alloy melt super-heated to a spontaneous reaction temperature at which the alloy can undergo a self-sustaining reaction with the selected reactant element; and introducing reactant gas to concurrently mix, atomize, and react with the critically super-heated alloy melt to form ultra-fine ceramic particles in an atomizer chamber. This Phase II project will design and build a prototype pilot-scale CART apparatus to demonstrate the commercial viability of the technology as applied to the synthesis of nano-sized oxides of selected metals that are deemed to have the greatest commercial potential. The commercial potential of ultrafine powders are in the production of catalysts, coatings and films, conductive pastes, cosmetics, electromagnetic components, electronic devices, fire retardant materials, magnetic fluids, sintered and injection-molded parts, ceramic composites, magnetic storage media, phosphors, pigments, polishing media, and toners. Indium-tin oxide (ITO) powders are used to prepare sputtering targets for deposition of transparent films for use in flat-panel display technology. Nano-grained materials can be employed to replace various load-bearing and non-structural parts in automobiles, infrastructures, off-shore structures, piping, containers, electronic equipment housings, etc. Nano-grained cermets and ceramics are outstanding cutting tool materials. Transparent nano-grained ceramics can be utilized in a broad array of applications, including transparent ceramic appliance components, clear "glassware" and artistic artifacts. Transparent ceramics may also be used in ballistic protection armor by law enforcement, security police and armored car personnel.