Patent ID: 7246763

Claim:
A method for reducing a particle size of a metallic feed material, the method comprising: providing a comminution apparatus comprising: a cutting chamber comprising a first member and a second member forming an angle therebetween such that the cutting chamber has a V-shaped cross section, wherein each of the first member and the second member includes a plurality of slots therethrough providing access into the cutting chamber; and a rotatable arbor disposed outside of the cutting chamber and supporting a plurality of toothed blades thereon such that during rotation of the arbor a tooth of each of the blades enters the cutting chamber through the slots in the first member and exits the cutting chamber through the slots in the second member; introducing the metallic feed material into the cutting chamber, wherein the metallic feed material is a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, titanium, magnesium, niobium, calcium, copper, potassium, hafnium and aluminum, or an alloy thereof; and rotating the arbor to thereby rotate the plurality of blades and agitate and comminute the metallic feed material within the cutting chamber.