MATERIALS
57
A coat for every occasion
As part of a project initiated by the French Atomic Commission,
Niro explains the integration of spray drying for novel processing
of nanoparticles.
N
iro is playing an important role it’s important that
in what may well prove to be the nanopowders are never
start of the new industrial handled in dry form but
revolution: the production of materials and incorporated in another
products using nanoparticles. The 4 year, 15.7 medium or converted to
million Euro project, is partially funded by the non dusting
European Commission (€8.1million) and involves agglomerates or
21 industrial partners including SMEs, universities granules using, for
and research institutions from 11 European example, spray drying.
countries and Canada. The company’s
The project is called SAPHIR and was kicked objectives within the
off at CEA Saclay (French Atomic Commission) in SAPHIR project are to
October last year. Its overall objective is the safe, challenge its spray
integrated, controlled, economic production and drying equipment to
recycling of high tech, multifunctional, produce optimal
nanostructured products. The aim is to develop an nanostructured
integrated ‘factory for nanos’ and to gather all the granulates from
industrial ‘elementary bricks’ to make the bottom nanoparticle suspensions
up manufacturing approach using nanoparticles a which can further be
reality. processed into
components with
Spray dry integration superior properties.
Nanoparticles are of great scientific interest as Niro aims to become
they are effectively a bridge between bulk the leading supplier of
materials and atomic structures. A bulk material equipment for producing
should have constant physical properties regardless nanostrutured granulate based on nanoparticles. It Niro’s role in the
of its size, but at the nano scale this is often not is believed that these particles will allow the project is to integrate
the case. Particles as small as 10
-9
m have a large production of new materials that are lighter, spray drying into a
proportion of their atoms on their surface. This stronger and less expensive than any known novel processing line
gives them unique properties making them behave materials to date. from nanoparticles
completely differently from bulk materials. The These materials are also likely to have synthesis until the
SAPHIR project aims to explore safe ways of exceptional coating properties that can reduce production of
manufacturing these particles, understand the wind resistance (and therefore fuel consumption), nanostructured
opportunities they present and exploit them improve electrical conductivity, and making self components
commercially. cleaning goods.
Niro’s role in the project is to integrate spray It is expected that nanoparticles will become
drying into a novel processing line from widely used in the future especially in the
nanoparticles synthesis until production of automotive, construction, space and aeronautics,
nanostructured components. To be handled safely, and energy industries.
November 2008
www.euroasiasemiconductor.com
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