Method for producing fine alumina particles using multi-carbide grinding media

1. A method for producing Al2O3 particles of a size between 1×10 −9 meters and 1,000×10 −9 meters, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining feed particles of Al2O3; and

(b) processing said feed particles in a media mill using spheres comprising multi-carbide material with a mass density greater than 8 gm/cc and a hardness and toughness sufficient not to introduce contamination of the milled particles to a degree greater than about 600 ppm; said processing being at an energy intensity to cause size reduction of said feed particles for a period of time effective to reduce a size of said feed particles to between 1×10 −9 meters and 1,000×10 −9 meters.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said multi-carbide material includes carbide forming elements which are selected from the group consisting of chromium, hafnium, molybdenum, niobium, rhenium, tantalum, thallium, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and zirconium.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said multi-carbide material further includes at least one carbide forming element in its elemental state.

4. A method for producing Al2O3 particles of a size between 1×10 −9 meters and 1,000×10 −9 meters, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining feed particles of Al2O3; and

(b) processing said feed particles in a media mill using spheres comprising multi-carbide material which comprise carbon and at least two different carbide-forming elements; said processing being at an energy intensity to cause size reduction of said feed particles for a period of time effective to reduce a size of said feed particles to between 1×10 −9 meters and 1,000×10 −9 meters.

5. A method according to claims 4 , wherein said carbide forming elements are selected from the group consisting of chromium, hafnium, molybdenum, niobium, rhenium, tantalum, thallium, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and zirconium.

6. A method according to claim 4 , wherein said multi-carbide material further includes at least one carbide forming element in its elemental state.

7. A method according to claims 1 or 4 , wherein said multi-carbide material comprises carbon and one carbide-forming element selected from the group consisting of chromium, hafnium, molybdenum, niobium, rhenium, tantalum, thallium, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and zirconium, along with the elemental metal of the carbide-forming element.

8. A method according to claims 1 or 4 , wherein said multi-carbide material consists essentially of titanium, tungsten, and carbon, in the ratios of from about 10 to 90 at % tungsten, from about 2 to 97 at % titanium, and the balance carbon.

9. A method according to claims 1 or 4 , wherein said multi-carbide material consists essentially of about 10 to 40 at % carbon; from about 5 to 50 at % titanium, and the balance being tungsten.

10. A method according to claims 1 or 4 , wherein said multi-carbide material comprises:

a carbide consisting essentially of from about 10 to 40 at % carbon, from about 5 to 50 at % titanium, and the balance being tungsten; and

at least one material taken from the group consisting of molybdenum, chromium, and rhenium;

wherein said at least one material is in an amount from 0 to about 20 at %, with the tungsten remaining in the composition being not less than 10 at %.

11. A method according to claims 1 or 4 , wherein said multi-carbide material comprises from about 20 to 30 at % carbon; from about 5 to 50 at % titanium; from about 0 to 30 at % of at least a first material from the group consisting of rhenium, zirconium, hafnium and molybdenum; from about 0 to 10 at % of at least a second material taken from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium and tantalum; from about 0 to 20 at % chromium; with the balance, but not less than 10 at %, being tungsten.

12. A method according to claims 1 or 4 , wherein said multi-carbide material comprises:

(a) from about 15 to 60 at % titanium and first alloying substituents, wherein said first alloying substituents consist of hafnium, niobium, tantalum and zirconium; and wherein titanium, titanium and niobium, or titanium and niobium and tantalum are present from 0 to 20 at %; wherein titanium or titanium and zirconium are present from about 0 to 10 at %; and wherein titanium or titanium and hafnium are present from about 0 to 30 at %; and the balance, if any, being titanium;

(b) from about 3 to 47 at % tungsten and second alloying substituents, wherein said second alloying substituents consist of chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, tantalum and niobium; wherein tungsten or tungsten and chromium are present from about 0 to 5 at %; wherein tungsten or tungsten and molybdenum are present from about 0 to 25 at %; wherein tungsten or tungsten and vanadium are present from about 0 to 5 at %; and wherein tungsten, tungsten and tantalum, tungsten and niobium, or tungsten and tantalum and niobium are present from about 0 to 20 at %; and the balance, if any, being tungsten;

(c) carbon from about 30 to 55 at %;

(d) wherein the atomic percentages of niobium and tantalum, each alone or in combination, never exceed 20 at %; and

(e) wherein the total at % of all constituents is 100 at %, all of the constituents of the alloy being of normal commercial purity.

13. A method for producing Al2O3 particles of a size between 1×10 −9 meters and 1,000×10 −9 meters, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining feed particles of Al2O3; and

(b) processing said feed particles in a media mill using spheres comprising multi-carbide material which comprise carbon and only one carbide-forming element selected from the group consisting of chromium, hafnium, molybdenum, niobium, rhenium, tantalum, thallium, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and zirconium, along with the elemental metal of the carbide-forming element; said processing being at an energy intensity to cause size reduction of said feed particles for a period of time effective to reduce a size of said feed particles to between 1×10 −9 meters and 1,000×10 −9 meters.

14. A method according to claims 1 , 4 , or 13 , wherein said media mill is one of a dry media mill and a wet media mill.