STTR Phase II: Novel Nanocoated Ferromagnetic Materials

这个小企业技术转移第二阶段项目将建立在第一阶段计划的巨大成功的基础上，证明对细小铁磁颗粒进行纳米涂层是可能的，并且这种纳米复合颗粒具有商业用途。第一阶段计划证明，氧化铝薄膜的原子层沉积(ALD)可以提供这些特性。第二阶段计划的目标是证明该工艺的可扩展性，并与支持公司合作，为商业市场开发特定的产品。将建造一个试点规模的设施，以扩大生产规模，以提供大多数合作伙伴开发产品所需的千克材料。该工厂将进行优化，以最低的生产成本提供最高质量的涂料。预计在第二阶段计划结束时，该公司将至少开发一个全面生产市场，还有2-4个市场仍在开发中。单个超细颗粒的ALD纳米涂层可以控制单个超细颗粒的表面化学，这是一项与更传统的CVD、PVD、PE-CVD或湿化学溶液处理相比无与伦比的技术。该工艺允许对单个超细颗粒进行纳米涂层，而不是覆盖超细颗粒的聚集体。它与视线无关，并提供与基片颗粒表面化学结合的薄膜。它很容易扩展。这是一个宽容的过程，其中纳米涂层的厚度由自限表面反应控制(而不是像CVD那样的助熔剂、温度或处理时间等)。薄膜是无针孔和保形的。在商业上，精细的铁颗粒被用于各种应用，如金属注射成型、雷达吸收、局部药物输送载体、电子设备等。这些应用中的大多数都将受益于较小的初始铁颗粒尺寸和降低的氧化敏感性。因此，超细颗粒的纳米涂层提供了许多机会。现在有可能制造出具有设计的电、磁、光、机械、流变性或其他特性的超细颗粒。这种功能化超细粉末的市场包括微电子、国防、硬质合金、化妆品、药物输送、含能材料和聚合物/陶瓷纳米复合材料等。。

This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase II project will build on the great successes of the Phase I program by proving that the nanocoating of fine ferromagnetic particles is possible on the large scale and that such nanocomposite particles have commercial uses. The Phase I program proved that atomic layer deposition (ALD) of an alumina film can provide these properties.The objectives of the Phase II program are to prove the scalability of the process as well as to work with supporting companies to develop specific products for commercial markets. A pilot scale facility will be constructed to increase the scale of production to provide the kilogram quantities of material that most partners require for product development. This facility will be optimized to provide the best quality coatings at the lowest production cost. It is anticipated that at the close of the Phase II program, the company will have developed at least one market for full scale production with 2-4 markets still being developed. The ALD nanocoating of individual ultrafine particles to control individual ultrafine particle surface chemistry is enabling technology that is unparalleled compared to moreconventional CVD, PVD, PE-CVD, or wet chemistry solution processing. The process allows for individual ultra-fine particles to be nanocoated, rather than coating aggregates of ultra-fine particles. It is independent of line of sight and provides for chemically bonded films to the substrate particle surface. It is easily scalable. It is a forgiving process where the nanocoating thickness is controlled by self-limiting surface reactions (not flux, temperature, or time of processing like CVD, etc.). Films are pin-hole free and conformal. Commercially, fine iron particles are used in a variety of applications such as metal injection molding, radar absorption, localized drug delivery carriers, electronic devices etc. Most of these applications would benefit from a smaller initial iron particle size and reduced oxidation sensitivity. Thus nanocoating of ultrafine particles provides many opportunities. It is now possible to produce ultrafine particles with designed electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical, rheological, or other properties. Markets for such functionalized ultra-fine powders include microelectronics, defense, hardmetals, cosmetics, drug delivery, energetic materials, and polymer/ceramic nanocomposites, among others. .