NANOMATERIAL POWDERS AND DEPOSITS PREPARED BY FLAME SPRAY PROCESSING OF LIQUID PRECURSORS

Ultrafine grained Al2O3, Mn2O3, ZrO2 and Y2O3-ZrO2 powders and deposit s were produced by flame spray processing of atomized precursor soluti ons. Ceramic particles of 1-150 nm size were collected on an electrost atic precipitator at a rate of similar to 5-20 mg/min, with similar to 5-25% collection efficiency. Nanograined oxide deposits with a powder morphology were produced at a deposition efficiency of < 10%. The spr ay feedstock and processing conditions affected the size, shape and ph ase composition of the synthesized nanomaterials. Particles with wider distributions of larger size grains were produced from aqueous soluti ons, whereas narrow range of fine-grained material was produced from o rgano-metallic precursors. Liquid flame spraying is a viable technique to produce nanoparticles and deposits.