Method and apparatus for manufacturing particles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017226649-A1
Application number	US-201715427372-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 8, 2017
Priority date	Feb 9, 2016
Publication date	Aug 10, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments provide a method and apparatus for continuous production of micro/nanoscale particles using roll-to-roll manufacturing in combination with electroplating. The roll-to-roll process can move a mechanically flexible reel stock material along rotating elements designed to position the material for various additive, subtractive, and modification processes. In accordance with at least one embodiment, processes applied at various stations may include sputtering, electroplating, and/or etching.

First claim

1 . A method for manufacturing particles, the method comprising:
using a roll-to-roll process to electroplate materials into through-holes provided in a roll of flexible reel stock, wherein a region of the reel stock is submerged into an electrolyte solution bath containing metallic ions.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the flexible reel stock is moving during the electroplating of materials.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, following submersion of the reel stock into the electrolyte solution bath:
removing electrolytic solution adherent to the reel stock; removing the primary coating material from the reel stock using an etching bath; and dissolving the reel stock by submerging the reel stock in a reel stock etchant bath.

4 . The method of claim 1 , in which an applied electroplating bias is constant.

5 . The method of claim 1 , in which an applied electroplating bias varies over time.

6 . The method of claim 1 , in which the electroplated materials include conducting or semiconducting materials.

7 . The method of claim 1 , in which the electroplated materials are alloys composed of multiple elements.

8 . The method of claim 1 , in which the electroplated materials are composed of magnetic materials.

9 . The method of claim 1 , in which the electroplated materials are conducting polymers or incorporate polymers.

10 . The method of claim 1 , in which the reel stock is moved in a continuous fashion or an intermittent fashion.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein non-conductive materials are co-deposited with the electroplated materials.

12 . An apparatus for manufacturing particles, the apparatus comprising:
at least one station in which material is deposited in a multiplicity of through-holes provided in a roll of flexible reel stock, wherein a region of the reel stock is submerged into an electrolyte solution bath containing metallic ions.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the flexible reel stock is moving during the electroplating of materials.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising at least one additional station including equipment to, following submersion of the reel stock into the electrolyte solution bath:
remove electrolytic solution adherent to the reel stock; remove the primary coating material from the reel stock using an etching bath; and dissolve the reel stock by submerging the reel stock in a reel stock etchant bath.

15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein an applied electroplating bias is constant.

16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein an applied electroplating bias varies over time.

17 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the reel stock is moved in a continuous fashion or an intermittent fashion.

18 . The apparatus of claim 12 , where non-conductive materials are co-deposited with the electroplated materials.

Assignees

• Weinberg Medical Physics Inc

Inventors

• Weinberg Irving N
• Mair Lamar Odell
• Stepanov Pavel

Classifications

• B22F1/054

  Nanosized particles · CPC title

• C25D7/0614

  Strips or foils · CPC title

• C25C5/02

  from solutions · CPC title

• C25D5/00 Primary

  Electroplating characterised by the process; Pretreatment or after-treatment of workpieces · CPC title

• C25D5/48

  After-treatment of electroplated surfaces · CPC title