Methods for spherically granulating and agglomerating metal particles, and the metal particles prepared thereby, anodes made from the metal patricles
US7666247B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 17, 2006 |
| Grant date | Feb 23, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/10
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method for spherically granulating and agglomerating metal particles such as tantalum and/or niobium powders is described in the present invention, which includes the steps of: a). comminuting the metal particles to form fine particles having D50 less than 50 μm; b). granulating the comminuted metal particles comprising volatile liquid, for example, tantalum and/or niobium particles comprising volatile liquid, to form wet spherical particles; c). still drying the wet spherical particles and removing volatile liquid to form flowable pre-agglomerated particles with increased bulk density; d). heat treating the pre-agglomerated particles; e). screening the heat treated powder to obtain the flowable agglomerated particles. The present invention provides a flowable spherical agglomerated metal particles, and especially tantalum and/or niobium particles having improved properties. The present agglomerated tantalum powder have a flow rate of at least about 2.0 g/sec, a BET surface area of from about 0.2 to about 6.0 m2/g, a FSSS of at least 1.0 μm, a Scott bulk density of from about 1.2 g/cm3 to about 5.5 g/cm3. The present agglomerated niobium powder have a flow rate of at least about …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.