Patent ID: 6392188
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: B22F,C23C

Abstract:
An apparatus for production of nanosized particulate matter by vaporization of solid materials, comprising at least one first chamber (14), at least one vacuum pump (15) connected with said first chamber (14), a body (2) inserted in said first chamber (14), a cavity (3) formed in said body (2), means (7, 9, 13) for feeding a gas flow (8) to said cavity (3), electrodes comprising at least one anode (4) and at least one cathode (5) at least partly inserted in said cavity (3), said cathode (5) consisting of material to be vaporized, a power supply (6) for applying a voltage between said anode (4) and said cathode (5) and generating an electrical discharge therebetween, a nozzle (11) communicating with said cavity (3) and adapted to convey a beam (12) of particles consisting of vaporized material from said cathode (5), said cathode (5) being arranged in the path of said gas flow (8) so that said gas flow (8) directly impinges on a side surface (5b ) of said cathode (5), said anode (4) and said cathode (5) being positioned so as to allow propagation of said electrical discharge to said gas flow (8) and ionization of said gas flow (8), and said electrodes having a mutual distance which is lower than a mean free path of the ions of said gas flow (8) at said electrodes.