| ||
|
Nanopowders, Thin Films, and Devices | |
| ||
          
|
 |
nGimat manufactures nanomaterials and provides research services
for the rapid development of new products utilizing nano-building
blocks. nGimat has worked with nanotechnology for over 10 years,
resulting in numerous issued patents that cover engineered
materials, structures, and components that function due to <100nm
dimensions. nGimat's proprietary NanoSpraySM
Combustion Processing technology and Nanomiser®
Device, combined with unique material and system development
expertise, enable low-cost, high-volume production of
nanoEngineered MaterialsTM in the form of nanoparticles
that can be used in slurries and pastes or in dry form that enable
next generation products.
The Uniqueness of Nanopowders Nanopowders enable new products and continue to replace conventional powders in many applications because of their unique properties, such as higher surface area and easier formability, and because of improved performance of the resulting end products. For example, due to improved catalytic performance from nanomaterials, current catalysts will be replaced with next-generation, advanced catalysts that require little or no expensive precious metals like platinum and require lower temperatures to function. Nanomaterials will be more expensive than the larger grain materials per unit weight, but the performance will be superior on a cost basis. Just as plastics have captured part of the market place from other materials, nanomaterials will capture a significant marketplace that requires higher performance levels or enabling functionality. Conventional methods of fabricating small devices from the top-down are either challenged in producing nano-size devices while still preserving their special properties, or are commercially impractical. nGimat's nanopowders allow manufacturers in a wide range of industries to fabricate nanodevices by building them from the bottom-up, starting with vapor and nano-cluster size building blocks. nGimat can produce nanopowders, in almost unlimited compositions, faster and at a significantly lower cost through the use of the Nanomiser Device, allowing the commercially enabling production of nanopowders in a continuous process. Nanopowders at nGimat nGimat has developed the NanoSpray Combustion Chemical Vapor Condensation (CCVC) process, a cost-effective method for producing a variety of mixed-metal oxides and metal nanoparticles, as well as research and development services for specific applications of nanopowders. The CCVC process can produce kilograms of nanopowders in our pilot-scale facilities and tons of material in scaled reactors. The benefits of nGimat's solution combustion technology include the simplicity of equipment, flexibility to form complex compositions, and increased production rates. nGimat's NanoSpray-based technology provides a new and highly competitive way to produce multi-component nanopowders at reduced costs. The capability and versatility of the process have already been proven in the synthesis of a variety of materials. The key advantages of nGimat's technology are:
nGimat's proprietary NanoSpray Combustion Processing technology is used to manufacture nanopowders with specific size, crystallinity, phases, color, and various oxidation states. The nanopowders produced are metal oxides, mixed metal oxides, or metals with specific surface layers that enable high quality inks and dispersions to be made in a range of liquids. Nanodispersions are produced from the raw manufactured nanopowders. Stability and shelf life are tailored to a customer's specifications. Various parameters, like pH, temperature, nanopowder loading, dispersing medium, and dispersant (or none), are used to achieve specific properties of a nanodispersion. These nanodispersions can also be surface-functionalized to easily blend into paints, coatings, and cosmetics with targeted properties, such as blocking sun rays. The nanodispersions blend into polymer and other mediums to be used in electronics, catalysts, and paints to provide enhanced dielectrics, conductors, biomaterials, protection against UV degradation by reflecting rays, corrosion resistance with a nanodispersion inhibitor, and thermal management coatings with specific range of wavelength-absorbing characteristics. The nanodispersion loading level required to attain any of the property enhancements is at times less than a couple of percent. Nanopigments developed and manufactured at nGimat are doped metal oxides. Since the nanopigments are manufactured at high temperatures, they are very stable to temperature, UV, radiation, and oxidation. The process has built-in controls to manage brightness, hue, and lumen of the nanopigments. Inorganic metal oxides can generate various colors, which are stable for a long time in ambient conditions. The colors do not fade and are impervious to most organic and aqueous solvents. These nanopigments can also be made available in a dispersion form for easy application on tiles, mixing with coating solutions, or use as ink for printing. nGimat began the sale of nanopowders in small quantities in the 4th quarter of 2002. nGimat is currently developing and selling special nanomaterials for customers focusing on applications in pigments, SOFC components, batteries, high-temperature catalysis, cosmetics, ink jet printing, medical implants and prosthetics, capacitors, chemical mechanical polishing and other applications. Some of the applications that are being enabled by nGimat's nanopowders and nanostructured coatings are listed below.
nGimat Home |
 |
