Method and apparatus for producing small hollow spheres
US4163637A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 1978 |
| Grant date | Aug 7, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/2996
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Method and apparatus for producing small hollow spheres of glass, metal or plastic, wherein the sphere material is mixed with or contains as part of the composition a blowing agent which decomposes at high temperature (T.gtoreq.600.degree. C.). As the temperature is quickly raised, the blowing agent decomposes and the resulting gas expands from within, thus forming a hollow sphere of controllable thickness. The thus produced hollow spheres (20 to 10.sup.3 .mu.m) have a variety of application, and are particularly useful in the fabrication of targets for laser implosion such as neutron sources, laser fusion physics studies, and laser initiated fusion power plants.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.