| abstract |
The present invention relates to a process for producing ultrafine powders consisting of individual particles having a size in the range of 1 nm to 200 nm, which process is based on the mechanical milling of two or more non-reactive powders. The process comprises the microstructured mixture in the form of a metal compound consisting of nanonized grains uniformly dispersed on the diluent via a process of mechanical activation, with respect to the mixture of a suitable precursor metal compound and the non-reactive diluent phase. Performing mechanical milling to reduce the pressure. By heating the milled powder, the precursor metal compound consisting of nanonized grains is transformed into any metal oxide phase. Alternatively, the precursor metal compound may itself be an oxide phase having the milling properties necessary to form nanograins when milled with a diluent. By removing the diluent phase, any metal oxide phase consisting of the nanonized grains remains in the form of ultra fine powder. The process enables a significant degree of control by the particle size and size distribution of the ultrafine powder by controlling the parameters of mechanical activation and heat treatment.n n n n Ultra fine powder, Nanostructure, Nanoparticle, Mechanical activation |