Novel Inexpensive Scalable Fluidized Degassing Process for Nanostructured, Lightweight Composite Powders

MATSYS proposes to develop novel fluidized degassing system for high-strength, nanostructured, lightweight composite powders. This effort will build on our extensive experience in fluidized powder flow to develop a new generation of inexpensive, scalable and highly-efficient fluidized powder systems to speed-up the removal of the PCA, such as stearic acid, used in the production of lightweight nanostructured powders. In the proposed concept we will introduce a gas in a loose powder bed as it is being heated. The gas will be introduced at multiple levels to ensure all the powder is exposed to it and speed up the removal of the PCA by-products to reduce the exposure of the powder to temperature and minimize grain growth. The system will have no moving parts, which will make it easy to use, and minimizes maintenance costs. This technology has many commercial applications, especially in powder reduction, heat treatment and delubing, to reduce processing time and improve process control, both of which will enhance the competitiveness of the US manufacturing industry. We plan to design and demonstrate a modular system that can be easily customized to meet the requirements for low temperature vs. high temperature processing as well as batch vs. continuous processing.