Apparatus and methods for industrial-scale production of metal matrix nanocomposites

摘要

Apparatus and methods for industrial-scale production of metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) are provided. The apparatus and methods can be used for the batch production of an MMNC in a volume of molten metal housed within the cavity of a production chamber. Within the volume of molten metal, a flow is created which continuously carries agglomerates of nanoparticles, which have been introduced into the molten metal, through a cavitation zone formed in a cavitation cell housed within the production chamber.

主权项

1. An apparatus for the production of metal matrix nanocomposites comprising:
(a) a production chamber defining a cavity; (b) a nanoparticle feeding system comprising:
a nanoparticle source in communication with the production chamber cavity through a feeding system output port, anda nanoparticle flow rate controller configured to control the flow rate of nanoparticles from the nanoparticle source to the feeding system output port; (c) a mixing system comprising:
a first impeller disposed within the production chamber cavity and configured to apply an axial shear force to nanoparticle agglomerates entering a molten metal held in the production chamber cavity through the feeding system output port, and to force the nanoparticle agglomerates downward into the molten metal, anda second impeller disposed within the production chamber and configured to apply a radial shear force to nanoparticle agglomerates forced downward into a molten metal held in the production chamber by the first impeller; (d) a cavitation system comprising:
a cavitation cell disposed within the production chamber cavity and defining a cavitation cavity having an input aperture and an output aperture, wherein the cavitation cell is positioned within the production chamber cavity such that a sub-volume of molten metal held within the cavitation cavity could flow out through the output aperture and back into a larger volume of molten metal held in the production chamber cavity, anda cavitation source configured to create a cavitation zone within a molten metal held in the cavitation cavity; and (e) a pumping conduit configured to conduct a flow of molten metal from the second impeller into the cavitation cavity through the cavitation cavity input aperture.