US 12,239,967 B2
Systems and methods for nanofunctionalization of powders
John H. Martin, Oxnard, CA (US); Brennan D. Yahata, Santa Barbara, CA (US); and Robert Mone, Stoughton, MA (US)
Assigned to HRL Laboratories, LLC, Malibu, CA (US)
Filed by HRL Laboratories, LLC, Malibu, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/243,182.
Application 18/243,182 is a division of application No. 15/996,439, filed on Jun. 2, 2018, granted, now 11,779,894.
Application 15/996,439 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/880,474, filed on Jan. 25, 2018, granted, now 11,052,460, issued on Jul. 6, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/540,616, filed on Aug. 3, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/463,952, filed on Feb. 27, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/452,989, filed on Feb. 1, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0415112 A1, Dec. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. B22F 1/054 (2022.01); B01F 33/40 (2022.01); B01F 35/221 (2022.01); B01F 35/60 (2022.01); B01F 35/71 (2022.01); B01F 35/75 (2022.01); B01J 3/02 (2006.01); B01J 3/04 (2006.01); B22F 1/052 (2022.01); B22F 9/02 (2006.01); B22F 9/04 (2006.01); B22F 1/102 (2022.01); B22F 1/17 (2022.01); B22F 1/18 (2022.01); B82Y 30/00 (2011.01); B82Y 40/00 (2011.01)
CPC B01J 3/02 (2013.01) [B01F 33/401 (2022.01); B01F 35/2213 (2022.01); B01F 35/2215 (2022.01); B01F 35/22161 (2022.01); B01F 35/602 (2022.01); B01F 35/711 (2022.01); B01F 35/7543 (2022.01); B01J 3/04 (2013.01); B22F 1/052 (2022.01); B22F 1/054 (2022.01); B22F 1/056 (2022.01); B22F 9/02 (2013.01); B22F 9/04 (2013.01); B22F 1/102 (2022.01); B22F 1/17 (2022.01); B22F 1/18 (2022.01); B22F 2201/04 (2013.01); B22F 2201/30 (2013.01); B22F 2202/01 (2013.01); B22F 2202/03 (2013.01); B22F 2202/15 (2013.01); B22F 2301/052 (2013.01); B22F 2301/058 (2013.01); B22F 2301/10 (2013.01); B22F 2301/15 (2013.01); B22F 2301/205 (2013.01); B22F 2301/255 (2013.01); B22F 2301/30 (2013.01); B22F 2301/35 (2013.01); B22F 2301/40 (2013.01); B22F 2302/05 (2013.01); B22F 2302/10 (2013.01); B22F 2302/20 (2013.01); B22F 2302/256 (2013.01); B22F 2303/20 (2013.01); B22F 2998/10 (2013.01); B22F 2999/00 (2013.01); B82Y 30/00 (2013.01); B82Y 40/00 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for producing a functionalized powder, said system comprising:
(a) an agitated pressure vessel under an inert atmosphere and at a vessel pressure greater than atmospheric pressure;
(b) a thermal-control unit disposed in thermal communication with said agitated pressure vessel;
(c) a plurality of first particles contained within said agitated pressure vessel;
(d) a plurality of second particles contained within said agitated pressure vessel, wherein said second particles are compositionally different than said first particles, and wherein said second particles are selected from the group consisting of zirconium hydrides, tantalum hydrides, niobium hydrides, titanium hydrides, and combinations thereof;
(e) a fluid contained within said agitated pressure vessel;
(f) an exhaust line for releasing said fluid from said agitated pressure vessel; and
(g) a means for recovering a functionalized powder directly from said agitated pressure vessel, wherein said functionalized powder contains said second particles disposed onto surfaces of said first particles,
wherein said first particles have an average first-particle size from about 1 micron to about 1 millimeter; and
wherein said second particles have an average second-particle size from about 1 nanometer to about 5000 nanometers.