Magnet materials and metallic particles and methods of making same

Abstract

New magnetic materials and new metallic particles, new methods of making and using same, for example, to prepare magnetically modified electrodes and fuel cells, and coated metallic particles in general. The present invention discloses methods of preparation of cheaper and more uniformly sized magnetic and metallic microparticles formed from the exemplary materials magnetite, nickel, samarium cobalt and neodymium iron boron. In addition, the present invention discloses methodology for preparation and use of coated magnetic and metallic microparticles, in particular, exemplary siloxyl coating of magnetic particles, metallic particles, and magnetic and metallic microparticles with an exemplary silane, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, that is cross linked thereon. In addition, methods and results are described for preparing and using larger siloxyl coated samarium cobalt milliparticles. Coated magnetic milliparticles and magnetic microparticles are useful as component of composites that are applied to electrodes to alter electrochemical fluxes across those electrodes, as well as to alter chemical reactions on surfaces of those electrodes, when magnetically susceptible reactions occur there.

Description

[0001]This application is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 363,996 filed Jun. 23, 2004, which is a U.S. national stage application of PCT / US2001 / 019368 filed Jun. 19, 2001, which claims priority benefit to U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 212,630 filed Jun. 19, 2000, both of which are incorporated by their entireties herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to new magnetic materials and new metallic particles, and methods for their manufacture. In particular, the present invention relates to new magnetic materials and new metallic particles, methods of making them (including methods of siloxyl coating them), and methods of using them, for example, to prepare magnetically modified electrodes for fuel cells, electrolytic cells, and batteries that thereby benefit from resulting enhanced or otherwise beneficially altered function.[0004]2. Background of the Related Art[0005]Commercially available paramagnetic micropar...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides solutions to the problems of prior art metallic and magnetic particles, such as lack of uniformity and high variability in particle size and magnetic field strength. The invention also provides micromaterials and magnetic microparticles with a high degree of uniformity and low variability in particle size and magnetic field strength. Additionally, the invention provides methods for producing chemically inert coatings on micromaterials to prevent surface oxidative processes and surface reactions. The invention also provides metallic microparticles and magnetic microparticles with at least one covalently bound siloxyl coating that prevents surface oxidative processes and surface reactions. The invention also provides metallic microparticles and magnetic microparticles with a plurality of siloxyl coatings that prevent surface oxidative processes and surface reactions.

Problems solved by technology

Commercially available paramagnetic microparticles are expensive and not of uniform size.

These variations in size and magnetic field strength introduce additional experimental variables that diminish reproducibility and greatly reduce experimental precision.

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