Disruptive Particle Suspension Discovery Drawn from Missile X-Ray Shielding Research

Repudiates Prevailing Theory that Nanoscale, Solid, Similarly-Sized Particles are best suited for Suspension Applications

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, April 24, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Engineered Data LLC’s Advanced Materials Group (www.Synthetic-Metals.com) published Nikon Helical CT X-Ray Images (https://www.synthetic-metals.com/Nikon/) revealing [1] heterogeneous nanoporous particles displaying near uniform particle dispersion, and [2] homogeneous nanoscale particles displaying sedimentation. Particles tested were Fe2O3, the suspension fluid was silicone rubber, and composite cure time was 4 hours.

Nikon’s CT scans challenge the prevailing theory that small nanoscale particles are best suited for Suspension Applications given their small size & reduced weight that slows gravity-induced sedimentation. Despite their small size & light weight, nanoscale particles are still solid grains with asymmetrically round exterior surfaces.

Comparatively, the nanoporous particles tested were large (micron scale), non-solid (due to porosity), and heterogeneous (grain sizes range up to 47,000X greater than nanoparticles tested). Being non-solid rendered the nanoporous particles less dense than nanoparticles. For larger nanoporous particles with interior facing pore networks, to the extent the particle’s interior pores were sealed-off from the suspension fluid, sealed pores aggregately created air pocket cavities which created particle buoyancy. Larger nanoporous particles were theorized to be more buoyant than smaller ones due to greater internal pore cavity volume. Moreover, unlike nanoparticles with smooth rounded exteriors, nanoporous particles displayed exteriors that were both multifaced + multiplanar, generating increased drag resistance as the particle moved through the suspension fluid, slowing, stalling, and even reversing sedimentation.

This discovery was an unanticipated byproduct of a Whitepaper Proposal in response to US Missile Defense Agency BAA #HQ0860-23-S-001, where nanoporous & nanoscale powdered Ferric Oxide composite samples were being evaluated as possible lightweight X-Ray shielding alternatives to lead. As of Press Release date, this research is ongoing.

This Suspension Discovery builds off of Synthetic-Metals.com’s July 2023 Performance Tuning breakthrough enabling Ferric Oxide Grain Sizes & Surface areas to be tailored to specific applications, signaling the end of “1 size fits all” Powdered Metal Oxide Raw Materials Manufacturing.

More information available at https://www.synthetic-metals.com.

Tim Rolf
Engineered Data LLC
+1 202-716-9400
email us here

Nanoporous vs, Nanoscale Fe2O3: which is better for particle suspension & dispersion