Functionalized nanoparticles and their use in particle/bulk material systems
First Claim
1. A method for generating functionalized nanoparticles comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a source of at least partially agglomerated nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles have pre-existing exposed surface areas,(b) providing a source of a first type of chemically functional group,(c) subjecting the nanoparticles to ultra-high shear fluidic processing forming newly exposed surface areas of the nanoparticles, and chemically bonding the first type of chemically functional group to the newly exposed surface areas of the nanoparticles while the nanoparticles are being subjected to the ultra-high shear fluidic processing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process for creating readily or highly dispersible nanoparticles on which chemically reactive functional groups or ligands have been placed. An ultra-high shear fluidic processor is used to change the size distribution of nanoparticle agglomerations and facilitate the formation of stable dispersions of such nanoparticles, as well as the placement of various chemically reactive functional groups or ligands on exposed surface areas of such nanoparticles. Such functionalized nanoparticle agglomerations have a broader size distribution (with a substantial increase in the proportion of smaller agglomerations), can exhibit enhanced dispersion characteristics and, when dispersed in various bulk materials, can impart to such bulk materials the desirable physical or chemical properties associated with the selected chemically active functional groups that have been attached to the surface areas of such agglomerations.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for generating functionalized nanoparticles comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a source of at least partially agglomerated nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles have pre-existing exposed surface areas, (b) providing a source of a first type of chemically functional group, (c) subjecting the nanoparticles to ultra-high shear fluidic processing forming newly exposed surface areas of the nanoparticles, and chemically bonding the first type of chemically functional group to the newly exposed surface areas of the nanoparticles while the nanoparticles are being subjected to the ultra-high shear fluidic processing. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 28, 29)
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2. (canceled)
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9. A method for generating multi-functionalized nanoparticles comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a source of at least partially agglomerated nanoparticles having pre-existing exposed surface areas, (b) providing a source of a first type of functional group and a source of a second type of functional group, (c) chemically bonding at least a portion of the first type of chemically functional group to the pre-existing surface areas of said agglomerated nanoparticles, (d) subjecting the nanoparticles to ultra-high shear fluidic processing forming newly exposed surface areas of the nanoparticles, and (e) chemically bonding at least a portion of the second type of chemically functional group to the newly created surface areas of the nanoparticles. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 27)
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10. (canceled)
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14. (canceled)
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20-26. -26. (canceled)
Specification