US 12,257,633 B2
Metal and fusible metal alloy particles and related methods
Benjamin Knapik, Etobicoke (CA); Michael S. Hawkins, Cambridge (CA); David Lawton, Burlington (CA); and Kimberly D. Nosella, Ancaster (CA)
Assigned to Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed by Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/823,706.
Prior Publication US 2024/0066595 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. B22F 9/16 (2006.01); B22F 1/052 (2022.01); B22F 1/065 (2022.01); B22F 1/16 (2022.01); B22F 9/24 (2006.01)
CPC B22F 9/16 (2013.01) [B22F 1/052 (2022.01); B22F 1/065 (2022.01); B22F 1/16 (2022.01); B22F 9/24 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
providing a mixture comprising: (a) a metal or a metal alloy, (b) a carrier fluid, and (c) an emulsion stabilizer comprising nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of metal oxide nanoparticles, aluminosilicate nanoparticles, borosilicate nanoparticles, aluminoborosilicate nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles, and any combination thereof;
shearing the mixture at a temperature of at least the melting point of the metal or the metal alloy to create a dispersion of molten droplets of the metal or the metal alloy dispersed in the carrier fluid;
cooling the dispersion to below the melting point of the metal or the metal alloy to form metal or metal alloy particles from the molten droplets;
wherein the nanoparticles are dispersed upon an outer surface of the metal or metal alloy particles, or the nanoparticles are embedded in the outer surface of the metal alloy or metal alloy particles; and
separating the metal or metal alloy particles from the carrier fluid.