Apparatus for making nanoparticles and nanoparticle suspensions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017304901-A1
Application number	US-201615256344-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 2, 2016
Priority date	Apr 20, 2016
Publication date	Oct 26, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wire explosion assembly configured to form nanoparticles by exploding at least a segment of an electrically conductive wire. The wire explosion assembly includes a spool supporting the electrically conductive wire, a vessel defining a wire explosion chamber, means in the wire explosion chamber for pulling the electrically conductive wire off of the spool and applying tension on the segment of the electrically conductive wire, and a power source for delivering an electrical current to the segment of the electrically conductive wire. The electrical current is configured to explode the segment of the electrically conductive wire into the nanoparticles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A wire explosion assembly configured to form nanoparticles by exploding at least a segment of an electrically conductive wire, the wire explosion assembly comprising:
a spool supporting the electrically conductive wire; a vessel defining a wire explosion chamber; means in the wire explosion chamber for pulling the electrically conductive wire off of the spool and applying tension on the segment of the electrically conductive wire; and a power source for delivering an electrical current to the segment of the electrically conductive wire, the electrical current configured to explode the segment of the electrically conductive wire into the nanoparticles.

2 . The wire explosion assembly of claim 1 , wherein the means for pulling and applying tension on the segment of the electrically conductive wire comprise a wire clamping assembly rotatably housed in the wire explosion chamber, the wire clamping assembly comprising:
a winding and tensioning member; at least first and second clamp assemblies coupled to the winding and tensioning member; and a wire guide coupled to the winding and tensioning member between the at least first and second clamp assemblies, the at least first and second clamp assemblies each configured to move between a clamped position and a disengaged position,
wherein rotation of the wire clamping assembly is configured to pull the segment of the electrically conductive wire into the wire explosion chamber and wind the segment of the electrically conductive wire around at least a portion of winding and tensioning member to apply the tension to the segment of the electrically conductive wire, and
wherein, when the at least first and second clamp assemblies are in the clamped position, the segment of the electrically conductive wire extends between the wire guide and one of the at least first and second clamp assemblies.

3 . The wire explosion assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first electrical wire coupled to the first clamp assembly; a second electrical wire coupled to the second clamp assembly; and a third electrical wire coupled to the wire guide,
wherein the power source is coupled to the first and second electrical wires, and
wherein the power source is configured to alternately deliver the current through the first and second clamp assemblies to the segment of the electrically conductive wire to explode the segment of the electrically conductive wire into the nanoparticles.

4 . The wire explosion chamber of claim 3 , wherein the first and second electrical wires each have a first polarity and the third electrical wire has a second polarity opposite the first polarity.

5 . The wire explosion assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a motor coupled to the wire clamping assembly, the motor configured to rotate the wire clamping assembly in the wire explosion chamber.

6 . The wire explosion assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the vessel comprises an inwardly-facing cam surface having at least one lobe; and the first and second clamp assemblies each further comprise a roller engaging the cam surface, the engagement between the rollers and the at least one lobe on the cam surface of the vessel is configured to alternately move the first and second clamp assemblies into the disengaged position.

7 . The wire explosion assembly of claim 6 , further comprising:
an inlet opening defined in the vessel, the inlet opening configured to receive the electrically conductive wire extending into the wire explosion chamber; and a wire feed guide housed in the wire explosion chamber, the wire feed guide configured to align the electrically conductive wire with the wire clamping assembly.

8 . The wire explosion assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least one lobe on the inwardly-facing cam surface is positioned proximate to the inlet opening and the wire feed guide, and wherein during the rotation of the wire clamping assembly, the first and second clamping assemblies engage the at least one lobe before reaching the inlet opening.

9 . The wire explosion assembly of claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second clamp assemblies further comprises a resilient member configured to bias a respective one of the first and second clamp assemblies into the clamped position.

10 . The wire explosion assembly of claim 2 , wherein the wire guide is a first wire guide, and wherein the wire clamping assembly further comprises a second wire guide coupled to the winding and tensioning member, the second wire guide located between the first and second clamp assemblies and opposite the first wire guide.

11 . The wire explosion assembly of claim 2 , wherein the winding and tensioning member comprises an electrically non-conductive material.

12 . A system configured to form a nanoparticle suspension, the system comprising:
a wire explosion assembly configured to form nanoparticles by exploding at least a segment of an electrically conductive wire, the wire explosion assembly comprising:
a spool supporting the electrically conductive wire;
a vessel defining a wire explosion chamber;
means in the wire explosion chamber for pulling the electrically conductive wire off of the spool and applying tension on the segment of the electrically conductive wire; and
a power source for delivering an electrical current to the segment of the electrically conductive wire, the electrical current configured to explode the segment of the electrically conductive wire into the nanoparticles;
a gas flow system configured to introduce a first processing gas into the wire explosion chamber.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first processing gas is oxygen and/or nitrogen.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first processing gas is argon.

15 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a liquid in the wire explosion chamber, and wherein the means for pulling and applying tension on the segment of the electrically conductive wire is submerged in the liquid such that the nanoparticles are formed in the liquid.

16 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a bubbler system coupled to the wire explosion assembly and configured to introduce a solvent to the nanoparticles to form the nanoparticle suspension.

17 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising a post-processing apparatus positioned between the wire explosion assembly and the bubbler system.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the post-processing apparatus is configured to introduce a second processing gas different than the first processing gas.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the post-processing apparatus is configured to process the nanoparticles, the process being at least one process selected from the group consisting of process of heating the nanoparticles, process of cooling the nanoparticles, process of exposing the nanoparticles to an electromagnetic field, process of exposing the nanoparticles to radiation, process of increasing a pressure on the nanoparticles, and process of decreasing a pressure on the nanoparticles.

20 . A method of forming nanoparticles, comprising:
pulling a segment of an electrically conductive wire into a wire explosion chamber; applying a substantially constant tension to the segment of the electrically conductive wire; and delivering an electrical current to the segment of the electrically conductive wire while applying the substantially constant tension to the segment of the electrically conductive wire to form the nanoparticles.

Assignees

• Hrl Lab Llc

Inventors

• Schubert Randall C
• Schaedler Tobias A
• Martin John H

Classifications

• B22F1/0545

  Dispersions or suspensions of nanosized particles · CPC title

• B22F1/056

  Submicron particles having a size above 100 nm up to 300 nm · CPC title

• B22F1/054

  Nanosized particles · CPC title

• B22F2999/00

  Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy · CPC title

• B22F2998/10

  Processes characterised by the sequence of their steps · CPC title