APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NANO-PARTICLES OF SILVER

• US 20080191395A1
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyprus AMAX Minerals Company (Freeport-Mcmoran Copper & Gold Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Climax Engineered Materials, LLC (Freeport-Mcmoran Copper & Gold Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johnson, Loyal M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,575,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 266/217
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 1/054 Nanosized particles
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2998/00 Supplementary information concerning processes or compositions relating to powder metallurgy
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 9/12 starting from gaseous material
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 11/02 by dry processes
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 9/003 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

Apparatus for producing silver nano-particle material. The apparatus includes a furnace containing a crucible for vaporizing a precursor material, as well as, a conduit disposed in perpendicular to the crucible. An inlet end of the conduit is open to the mixing region created between the conduit and the crucible. A process gas supply is also operatively associated with the mixing region.

Claims

1. Apparatus for producing silver nano-particle material comprising:

a furnace, the furnace including an interior region with a mixing region;

a crucible, the crucible being positioned within the furnace and containing a quantity of precursor material;

a conduit, the conduit being disposed in perpendicular to the crucible and having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end being open to the mixing region and including a hood-like portion disposed in perpendicular to the crucible;

a process gas supply, the process gas supply being operatively associated with the furnace and disposed in relation to the mixing region; and

a particle filter, the particle filter having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the particle filter being coupled to the outlet end of the conduit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum coupled to the outlet end of the particle filter, and a collection chamber, the collection chamber being coupled to the particle filter and configured to collect filtered silver nano-particle material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising induction coils operatively associated with the furnace and configured to generate heat in a temperature range of about 1600°

C. to about 1800°

C.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the process gas includes nitrogen.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the precursor material includes metallic silver.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a process gas from the process gas supply is discharged into the mixing region.

7. Apparatus for producing silver nano-particle material comprising:

a furnace;

a crucible, the crucible being positioned within the furnace and containing a quantity of precursor material;

a conduit, the conduit being disposed in perpendicular to the crucible, to create a mixing region between the conduit and the crucible, and having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end being open to the mixing region and including a hood-like portion;

a process gas supply, the process gas supply being operatively associated with the mixing region; and

a particle filter comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the particle filter being coupled to the outlet end of the conduit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a vacuum coupled to the outlet end of the particle filter, and a collection chamber coupled to the particle filter configured to collect filtered silver nano-particle material.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising induction coils operatively associated with the furnace and configured to generate heat in a temperature range of about 1600°

C. to about 1800°

C.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the process gas includes nitrogen.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the precursor material includes metallic silver.

12. Apparatus for producing silver nano-particle material comprising:

a furnace, the furnace including a mixing region;

a crucible, the crucible being positioned within the furnace at a first end of the mixing region and containing a quantity of precursor material;

a conduit, the conduit being disposed in perpendicular to the crucible at a second end of the mixing region and having an inlet end open to the mixing region; and

a process gas supply operatively associated with the mixing region.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the inlet end of the conduit includes a hood-like portion disposed in perpendicular to the crucible.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a particle filter including an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the particle filter being coupled to an outlet end of the conduit.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a vacuum coupled to the outlet end of the particle filter, and a collection chamber coupled to the particle filter configured to collect filtered silver nano-particle material.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising induction coils operatively associated with the furnace and configured to generate heat in a temperature range of about 1600°

C. to about 1800°

C.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the process gas includes nitrogen.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the precursor material includes metallic silver.