Argonide Announces the Availability of Super Small Ceramic Fiber
SANFORD, Florida - Jan 1, 2001 – The Argonide Nanotechnology group introduces the first of a new family of products – an alumina fiber with a diameter of 2 nanometers, and a remarkably high surface area: 500-600 m2/g. These fibers have an aspect ratio (AR) ranging from 20 to 100. They are about the size of a DNA molecule. Figure 1 is a transmission electron micrograph showing a mass of fibers and Figure 2 is a further magnification that brings some fibers into focus. The small diameter and high AR makes them an ideal reinforcement for ceramic (CMC), metal (MMC) and plastic (PMC) composites. Their superior high surface area makes them ideal as a chemisorbent. They regenerably chemisorb dissolved heavy metals including mercury, gold, silver, cadmium, lead, and uranium. Their capacity for absorbing fluoride ion from water exceeds that of activated alumina about 3 to 10 times. Bacteria are highly attracted to the fibers.
Major applications of NanoceramTM nano alumina fibers include:
- As a structural reinforcement of metal, plastics, and ceramics
- Manufacture of high strength ceramic membranes and membrane reactors
- Clean-up of plating waste effluents
- Mining and recovery of precious metals
- Removal of trace (ppb) organo pollutants from water
- Scavenging microbes (e.g. bacteria) from aqueous media
- As a catalyst and catalytic support for precious metals
- Biocompatible implantable reinforcement for medical and dental composites
- Electrical and thermal insulation
- A sintering aid for ceramics
The field of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in particular is poised to expand into a major industry. Argonide has been a major front-runner in spearheading the production of nano metal powders, which have won the “Best 100” new product award. NanoceramTM alumina fibers adds to the nano metals by providing a wide range of applications including structural, electronic, environmental, catalyst, chemical separation and coating industrial segments. “The market for advanced ceramics is expected to reach $11 billion by 2003 at the present 7.9% growth rate,” according to Thomas Abraham, Research and Editor for Business Communications Co.
Like all Argonide products, nano alumina fibers are being produced in kilo quantities. Samples of 20 and 100 gram quantities are available for test and evaluation.This material is considered a revolutionary product developed in collaboration with the Republican Engineering Technical Center in Tomsk, Siberia. Argonide has a cooperative agreement with the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) to employ approximately 60 former Soviet scientists involved in weapons of mass destruction. Three U. S. National Laboratories also contribute to this project. “The commercial opportunities for nano metal powders as well as the new fiber has been remarkably enhanced by the combined efforts of this extraordinary team,” said Fred Tepper, President of Argonide. Owing to this program, the Siberian scientists, who would ordinarily have been unemployed or working in weapons related programs, are now contributing to Nanotechnology and a number of new products evolving from this science.
Figure 1 – Nano alumina fibers (note the absence of particulates)
Figure 2 – Nano alumina fibers (note fibers in foreground brought into focus)