SBIR Phase I: Powder Porcessing Routes for Making Submicron Hydrotalcite and Zirconia-Glass Materials

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a feasibility study to produce two-submicron inorganic powders via solvent-free processing routes. One of the materials is the anionic clay known as hydrotalcite, which is used as an antacid and a PVC additive. The other material is a glass-zirconia composite, which is a promising candidate for making glass-ceramic dental materials. Structure-function relationships suggest that production of these two types of inorganic powders in particle sizes at or below one micron should translate into materials with improved performance over commercially available forms. For both target materials, the key advantages over current manufacturing methods are simplicity in terms of the processing steps; solvent-free manufacturing; and cost. Mechanochemical production of submicron powders should also compete favorably with more exotic syntheses leading to nanosized powders.