Method for making amorphous particles using a uniform melt-state in a microwave generated plasma torch

摘要

Feed material comprising uniform solution precursor droplets is processed in a uniform melt state using microwave generated plasma. The plasma torch employed is capable of generating laminar gas flows and providing a uniform temperature profile within the plasma. Plasma exhaust products are quenched at high rates to yield amorphous products. Products of this process include spherical, highly porous and amorphous oxide ceramic particles such as magnesia-yttria (MgO—Y2O3). The present invention can also be used to produce amorphous non oxide ceramic particles comprised of Boron, Carbon, and Nitrogen which can be subsequently consolidated into super hard materials.

主权项

1. A method of producing amorphous powder particles using a uniform melt state process comprising:
a) introducing a feed material in the form of axially uniform precursor droplets from a feed injection device into a microwave plasma torch; b) entraining said feed material using laminar flow towards a microwave generated plasma; c) processing said feed material by exposing it to a uniform high temperature profile within said microwave generated plasma to form plasma exhaust gas; d) quenching at a high rate the plasma exhaust gas of said microwave generated plasma; e) filtering the quenched plasma exhaust gas; and f) extracting amorphous powder particle products from said filtered plasma exhaust gas.