[0001] The present invention relates to a method for the dispersion of nanoparticles in
a fluid, usable in particular for the dispersion of carbon and graphene nanotubes
inside thermosetting polymers.
[0002] The need to save energy together with the need to obtain materials with particular
properties and increasingly higher strength/weight ratios is prompting a growing use
of composite materials in the aerospace and automotive industries.
[0003] Furthermore, the use of such materials is also growing in the building trade and,
more in general, where corrosion phenomena are of primary importance.
[0004] These and other needs have prompted researchers to investigate in detail the properties
of nano-engineered composite materials.
[0005] In particular, carbon and graphene nanotubes are considered to be important fillers
usable to upgrade the properties of composite materials and, more in general, of polymers.
[0006] The major obstacles to the large-scale diffusion of this new generation of materials
are:
- the high cost of carbon and graphene nanotubes;
- the considerable increase in polymer viscosity following the inclusion in same of
this category of nanoparticles;
- the lack of a method of dispersion of the nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix which
is effective and of low cost.
[0007] More specifically, this latter drawback is mainly due to the high specific surface
area of nanoparticles and of the van der Vaals forces which tend to keep the particles
aggregated to one another.
[0008] Within basic research, the most used method to effectively disperse the nanoparticles
is so-called sonication, commonly accompanied by the use of thinners and surfactants
which often damage the polymeric matrix.
[0009] In practice, the nanoparticles are dispersed using ultrasonic probes which are soaked
inside the preparation.
[0010] This known method however has some drawbacks.
[0011] In particular, sonication permits preparing only small quantities of product at a
time, around a few hundred grams, and requires a long time, making the entire process
economically unviable.
[0013] It is also known that manufacturers of epoxy resins with nano additives use dispersion
techniques and machinery previously used in other sectors, like that of cosmetics,
inks, paints, the food industry and, more in general, in all those sectors where micrometric
solid particles have to be mixed, dispersed and homogenized inside a substance in
liquid state.
[0014] Standard mixers and stirrers used for the production of paints, foodstuffs and in
general in the chemical industry become inefficient or even ineffective when the sizes
of the particles to be dispersed become nanometric and, in particular, this occurs
in the case of carbon or graphene nanotubes.
[0015] The machinery most commonly used for these purposes is currently the so-called Three
Roll Mill.
[0016] This machinery is essentially made up of three parallel rollers, between which a
predetermined distance is kept which can be adjusted by means of specific devices.
[0017] The first two rollers, i.e., the loading roller and the central roller, turn in opposite
directions and at different speeds, so as to produce tangential forces in the material
being loaded when this passes between them.
[0018] The third roller, or unloading roller, turns in the opposite direction to the central
roller and at a higher speed compared to the latter.
[0019] The speeds of the three rollers are therefore different and increase passing from
the loading roller to the unloading roller.
[0020] The unloading roller is kept in contact with a blade integral with an unloading channel.
The blade picks up the material from the unloading roller and causes it to flow to
the channel, from where it is then picked up.
[0021] This solution too has however some drawbacks.
[0022] In particular, the machinery is heavy and has large overall dimensions and is hazardous
for operators due to the presence of the rollers, both during the work phases and
during the machine cleaning phases.
[0023] Furthermore, the use of such machinery involves the risk of evaporation, and therefore
of inhaling volatile substances inside the work environment. Furthermore, the treated
preparation does not receive enough energy to obtain a good dispersion by means of
a single stroke inside the machine, particularly when nanoparticles are being dealt
with such as carbon and graphene nanotubes. This makes it necessary to run the preparation
several times inside the machine, thus reducing considerably its productivity.
[0024] A further limit is the fact that, in the event of the machine having to process fluids
containing nanoparticles, along with the growth in dimensions of the machine, productivity
does not grow linearly and, on the contrary, it can decrease due to the inevitable
parallelism errors between the rollers, the eccentricity of same and, therefore, the
difficulty in maintaining a constant distance between them.
[0025] Finally, conventionally, production occurs in lots and the machinery is loaded through
a hopper that discharges a predefined quantity of preparation between the first two
rollers. Once this is processed, the rollers are again loaded.
[0026] The loading and unloading operations do not therefore allow having a machine isolated
from the outside environment and, consequently, the openings for the loading and unloading
of the fluid convey volatile substances inside the environment.
[0027] Document
US 2005/053532 A1 discloses a surface reactor comprising: a reactor body having a reactor surface;
means for feeding a first reactant to the reactor surface at a first entry location
and at a rate such that the reactant spreads out on the surface from the entry location
in the form of a first thin film; means for feeding a second reactant to the reactor
surface at a second entry location and into the first film in the form of a second
thin film in order to interact with the first film; and means for collecting the resultant
product of the first and second films at the periphery of the surface.
[0028] Document
GB 1500901 discloses hydrated colloidal suspensions and a colloid mixer for use in forming hydrated
colloidal suspensions.
[0029] The main aim of the present invention is to provide a method for the dispersion of
nanoparticles in a fluid able to ensure effective dispersion.
[0030] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for the dispersion
of nanoparticles in a fluid which allows to overcome the mentioned drawbacks of the
prior art within the framework of a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and affordable
solution.
[0031] The above mentioned objects are achieved by the present method for the dispersion
of nanoparticles in a fluid according to claim 1.
[0032] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better
evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive embodiment, of a method
for the dispersion of nanoparticles in a fluid, illustrated by way of an indicative,
but not limitative example in the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the appliance;
Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the appliance;
Figure 3 is an axonometric view of the first and second discs of the appliance.
[0033] With particular reference to such illustrations, the reference numeral 1 globally
designates an appliance for the dispersion of particles P in a fluid F, usable in
particular for the dispersion of carbon and graphene nanotubes, inside of thermosetting
polymers.
[0034] The use of the appliance 1 cannot however be ruled out for the dispersion in different
fluids of different types of particles, whether these are of nanometric or micro metric
size.
[0035] For example, the appliance 1 can be used to:
- disperse pigments in paints and inks;
- disperse excipients, active ingredients and other particles in the preparation of
creams, cosmetics and pharmacological products.
[0036] The appliance 1 comprises a supporting structure, indicated altogether in the illustrations
by the reference 2.
[0037] The appliance 1 also comprises:
- a first disc 3 supported by the supporting structure 2 and axially rotatable around
a rotation axis R;
- a second disc 4 supported by the supporting structure 2 and superimposed to the first
disc 3.
[0038] The first disc 3 and the second disc 4 are arranged substantially parallel to one
another and close together, so as to define an interstice I between the two respective
flat surfaces.
[0039] Conveniently, the second disc 4 is associated axially translatable with the supporting
structure 2, along a translation axis T, and is mobile close to/away from the first
disc 3.
[0040] The variation in the distance between the first disc 3 and the second disc 4 permits
varying the dimensions of the interstice I according to the particular particles P
to be dispersed, as well as to the particular fluid F used.
[0041] Preferably, the first disc 3 and the second disc 4 must maintain levelness and not
come into contact including for distances close to 0.00001 m.
[0042] With non-exclusive reference to the particular and preferred embodiment of the appliance
1 shown in the illustrations, the first disc 3 is arranged substantially horizontally
and has a first flat surface 3a turned upwards.
[0043] Furthermore, the second disc 4 is also arranged substantially horizontally and has
a second flat surface 4a turned downwards, facing and parallel to the first flat surface
3a. The interstice I is defined between the first flat surface 3a and the second flat
surface 4a.
[0044] The appliance 1 has introduction means 5 of a fluid F containing agglomerates of
particles P to disperse. The introduction means I are able to introduce the fluid
F inside the interstice I, in correspondence to a substantially central portion of
the first disc 3.
[0045] In particular, the introduction means 5 can consist of an introduction channel having
a charging mouth 5a of the fluid F and of a dispensing mouth 5b of the fluid F, wherein
the dispensing mouth 5b is arranged in correspondence to the central portion of the
first disc 3.
[0046] With non-exclusive reference to the embodiment of the appliance 1 shown in the illustrations,
the introduction channel 5 consists of a through hole made along a cylindrical support
6 of the second disc 4, through the second disc itself, up to the second flat surface
4a.
[0047] More specifically, the charging mouth 5a is made in correspondence to the upper portion
of the cylindrical support 6 of the second disc 4, while the dispensing mouth 5b consists
of an opening made on the second flat surface 4a of the second disc 4, in correspondence
to the central portions of the first and the second discs 3 and 4.
[0048] The appliance 1, in particular the supporting structure 2, also comprises a collection
channel 7 arranged in correspondence to a perimeter portion of the first disc 3 and
able to collect the fluid F containing the dispersed particles P. During the operation
of the appliance 1, the flow rate and supply pressure of the fluid F introduced through
the introduction channel 5, the distance between the opposite first and the second
flat surfaces 3a and 4a of the first and second discs 3 and 4 and the rotation speed
of the first disc 3 can be varied.
[0049] The fluid F, forced to pass inside the interstice I between the first and the second
flat surfaces 3a and 4a of the first and second discs 3 and 4, is submitted to a complex
field of forces that produces cutting forces able to separate the agglomerates of
nanoparticles P, thus dispersing these inside the fluid F.
[0050] In particular, the fluid F completes a spiral path passing from the central portion
of the first and second discs 3 and 4, up to the perimeter portions of the first and
second discs 3 and 4 and, then, to the collection channel 7.
[0051] Usefully, the first disc 3 can have, in correspondence to one or more of its perimeter
portions, one or more spatulas 8 or similar devices able to push the fluid F towards
the collection channel 7.
[0052] The appliance 1 also comprises operation means 9 operatively associated with the
first disc 3 and able to produce the rotation of the first disc 3 around the rotation
axis R.
[0053] With reference to the preferred embodiment shown in the illustrations, the operation
means 9 comprise a shaft 10 supported axially rotatable by the supporting structure
2 which extends, integral with it, from the lower face of the first disc 3.
[0054] The shaft 10 is connected to the lower face of the first disc 3 and is supported
by the supporting structure 2 through specific bearings 11. The preloading of the
bearings 11 can be done through a ring nut 12 or other device, for the purpose of
cancelling the play.
[0055] The shaft 10, e.g., can be connected to motor means, not shown in the illustrations,
by means of a specific pinion 13.
[0056] Different embodiments of the operation means 9 cannot however be ruled out, wherein
the first disc 3 is made to rotate by means of different movement systems.
[0057] The appliance 1 also comprises adjustment means 14 suitable for adjusting the distance
of the second disc 4 with respect to the first disc 3.
[0058] The adjustment means 14 comprise a screw micrometer adjusting mechanism 15.
[0059] More specifically, the adjustment means 14 comprise a bush 16 and the adjustment
of its distance from the first disc 3 is allowed by specific devices 15, 16, 17, 18
and 19 which enable its micrometric adjustment.
[0060] This is done by means of an adjustment ring nut 17, and the possible play between
screw and nut screw of the screw micrometer adjusting mechanism 15 is eliminated by
elastic means 18.
[0061] More specifically, the elastic means 18 preferably consist of a spring that works
by pushing the second disc 4 in the direction of the pressure applied by the fluid
F between the discs 3 and 4. This way, the pressure applied by the incoming fluid
F will not change the distance between the discs 3 and 4.
[0062] In particular, with reference to the embodiment shown in the illustrations, this
occurs by compressing the spring 18 between the bush 16 and a contrasting bearing
ring 19 integral with the second disc 4.
[0063] The force applied by the spring 17 must be greater than the weight of the second
disc 4, including the weight of all the accessories needed and integral with it, and
the spring 17 must be able to overcome any friction between the second disc 4, the
bush 16, the contrasting bearing ring 18 and all the accessories of the adjustment
means 14 that come into contact with these.
[0064] The distance between the first and the second discs 3 and 4 can be easily measured
indirectly, e.g. by means of a micrometer 20 with sensor located on the upper surface
of the second disc 4.
[0065] The thicknesses of the first and second discs 3 and 4 are designed for maximum operating
pressure and the maximum allowed load in correspondence to the maximum diameter is
1/10 the operating distance envisaged between the discs themselves.
[0066] The work surfaces of the first and second discs 3 and 4, made up of the first and
second flat surfaces 3a and 4a, have a surface hardening treatment and are ground
or rumbled.
[0067] The perfect parallelism of the discs can furthermore be achieved by means of a ball
joint or precision constant-velocity joint in the connection between the first disc
3 and its shaft 10. This way, the pressure of the fluid F itself, perpendicular to
the surface of the first and second discs 3 and 4, will ensure its parallelism. In
order to obtain a more or less constant operating temperature, cooling circuits can
be envisaged on the covers of the supporting structure 2, on the discs and on the
shafts.
[0068] Conveniently, the supporting structure 2 comprises suitable means for covering the
first and the second discs 3 and 4.
[0069] In particular, the covering means consist of a lower monobloc 2a and of an upper
monobloc 2b fastened together to define a compartment V for housing the first and
second discs 3 and 4.
[0070] Different types and/or shapes of the supporting structure 2 and of the covering means
cannot however be ruled out.
[0071] It has in fact been ascertained how the described invention achieves the proposed
objects.
[0072] In particular, the appliance, more specifically the rotation of the first disc with
respect to the second disc, permits subjecting the fluid to a complex force field,
in order to produce cutting forces able to break apart the agglomerates of particles,
thereby dispersing the particles themselves inside the fluid.
[0073] Furthermore, the fact is underlined that the advantages with respect to the state
of the art are:
- specifically conceived and sized for the nanotechnology sector;
- possibility of acting on several variables (distance between discs, supply pressure,
supply flow rate, disc rotation speed) in order to achieve the desired result;
- high energy transmitted to fluid which permits obtaining effective dispersions with
a single stroke of the preparation inside the machine;
- continuous production;
- appliance isolated from the outside environment so as not to allow the introduction
of volatile substances into the environment;
- appliance also suitable in applications where micrometric particles have to be dispersed.
[0074] The fact is also underlined that the presence of disc covering means, together with
the particular structure of the appliance, makes the appliance itself safer for operators
with respect to solutions of known type.
[0075] Furthermore, together with the increase in disc diameters, the working area also
increases by a ratio equal to its square.
1. Method for the dispersion of nanoparticles (P) in a fluid (F), wherein it comprises
at least the following steps:
- providing an appliance (1) comprising a supporting structure (2), at least a first
disc (3) associated with said supporting structure (2) axially rotatable around a
rotation axis and provided with a first flat surface (3a), at least a second disc
(4) associated with said supporting structure (2) and provided with a second flat
surface (4a), said first disc (3) and said second disc (4) being arranged parallel
to one another and substantially closed and said first flat surface (3a) and second
flat surface (4a) being faced and parallel each other to define an interstice (I),
introduction means (5) for introducing inside said interstice (I) and in correspondance
to a substantially central portion of said first disc (3) a fluid (F) containing agglomerates
of nanoparticles (P) to disperse, operation means (9) operatively associated with
said first disc (3) and able to rotate said first disc (3) around said rotation axis,
adjustment means (14) for adjusting the distance of at least one of said first and
second discs (3, 4) with respect to the other of said first and second discs (3, 4),
wherein said adjustment means (14) comprise a screw micrometer adjusting mechanism
(15) associated with at least one of said first and second discs (3, 4), and elastic
means (18) configured to eliminate the possible play of said adjustment means (14);
- by means of said introduction means (5), introducing inside said interstice (I),
between said first and second flat surface (3a, 4a), said fluid (F) containing said
agglomerate of nanoparticles (P) to disperse;
- by means of said operation means (9), rotate said first disc (3) around said rotation
axis to submit said fluid (F) inside said interstice (I) to a complex field of forces,
with the purpose of producing cutting forces able to separate said agglomerate of
nanoparticles (P), dispersing the nanoparticles (P) inside said fluid (F),
- by means of said elastic means (18), pushing at least one of said first and second
discs (3, 4) in the direction of the pressure applied by said fluid (F) between the
discs themselves, said elastic means (18) being able to eliminate the possible play
between screw and nut screw of said screw micrometer adjusting mechanism (15).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that at least one of said first and second discs (3, 4) is mobile close
to/away from the other of said first and second discs (3, 4), the variation in the
distance between said first disc (3) and said second disc (4) being able to vary the
dimensions of said interstice (I).
3. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said second disc (4) is associated axially translatable with said supporting
structure (2) along a translation axis (T).
4. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said introduction means (5) comprise at least an introduction channel
(5) having at least a charging mouth (5a) of said fluid (F) and at least a dispensing
mouth (5b) of said fluid (F) arranged in correspondence to said substantially central
portion of the first disc (3).
5. Method according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that at least a section of said introduction channel (5) is composed of
at least a through hole made along at least a portion of said first disc (3) and/or
of said second disc (4).
6. Method according to one or more of the claims 4 and 5, characterized by the fact that said dispensing mouth (5b) comprises at least an opening made on a
surface of said first disc (3) and/or of said second disc (4) facing towards said
interstice (I), in correspondence to said substantially central portion of the first
disc (3).
7. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said appliance (1) comprises at least a collection channel (7) arranged
in correspondence to at least a perimeter portion of said first disc (3) and able
to collect said fluid (F) containing dispersed nanoparticles (P).
8. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said operation means (9) comprise at least a shaft (10) associated
axially rotatable with said supporting structure (2), integrally associated with said
first disc (3) and associable with motor means.
9. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said supporting structure (2) comprises covering means (2a, 2b) of
said first and second discs (3, 4).
10. Use of the method according to one or more of the preceding claims for the dispersion
of carbon nanotubes and graphene inside thermosetting polymers.
1. Verfahren zur Dispersion von Nanopartikeln (P) in einem Fluid (F), wobei es mindestens
die folgenden Schritte umfasst:
- Bereitstellen einer Vorrichtung (1), die eine Tragkonstruktion (2) umfasst, mindestens
eine erste Scheibe (3), die der Tragkonstruktion (2) axial um eine Drehachse drehbar
zugeordnet und mit einer ersten ebenen Fläche (3a) versehen ist, mindestens eine zweite
Scheibe (4), die der Tragkonstruktion (2) zugeordnet und mit einer zweiten ebenen
Fläche (4a) versehen ist, wobei die erste Scheibe (3) und die zweite Scheibe (4) parallel
zueinander und im Wesentlichen geschlossen angeordnet sind und die erste ebene Fläche
(3a) und zweite ebene Fläche (4a) einander zugewandt und parallel zueinander sind,
um einen Spalt (I) zu definieren, Einführungsmittel (5) zum Einführen eines Fluids
(F) in den Spalt (I) und in Übereinstimmung mit einem im Wesentlichen zentralen Abschnitt
der ersten Scheibe (3), das zu dispergierende Agglomerate von Nanopartikeln (P) enthält,
Betriebsmittel (9), die funktionsfähig mit der ersten Scheibe (3) verbunden und in
der Lage sind, die erste Scheibe (3) um die Drehachse zu drehen, Einstellmittel (14)
zum Einstellen des Abstands von mindestens einer der ersten und zweiten Scheiben (3,
4) in Bezug auf die andere der ersten und zweiten Scheiben (3, 4), wobei die Einstellmittel
(14) einen Schraubenmikrometer-Einstellmechanismus (15) umfassen, der mindestens einer
der ersten und zweiten Scheiben (3, 4) zugeordnet ist, und elastische Mittel (18),
die konfiguriert sind, um das mögliche Spiel der Einstellmittel (14) zu beseitigen;
- Einführen des Fluids (F), das Agglomerat aus Nanopartikeln (P) zum Dispergieren
enthält, mittels der Einführungsmittel (5) in den Spalt (I) zwischen der ersten und
zweiten flachen Fläche (3a, 4a);
- Drehen der ersten Scheibe (3) um die Drehachse mittels der Betriebsmittel (9), um
das Fluid (F) innerhalb des Spalts (I) einem komplexen Feld von Kräften zu unterwerfen,
mit dem Ziel, Schnittkräfte zu erzeugen, die in der Lage sind, das Agglomerat aus
Nanopartikeln (P) zu trennen, und die Nanopartikel (P) innerhalb des Fluids (F) zu
verteilen,
- Drücken mindestens einer der ersten und zweiten Scheiben (3, 4) in der Richtung
des von dem Fluid (F) zwischen den Scheiben selbst ausgeübten Drucks mittels der elastischen
Mittel (18), wobei die elastischen Mittel (18) in der Lage sind, das mögliche Spiel
zwischen Schraube und Mutterschraube des Schraubenmikrometer-Einstellmechanismus (15)
zu eliminieren.
2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindestens eine der ersten und zweiten Scheiben (3, 4) nah zu/weg von der anderen
der ersten und zweiten Scheiben (3, 4) beweglich ist, wobei die Änderung des Abstands
zwischen der ersten Scheibe (3) und der zweiten Scheibe (4) in der Lage ist, die Abmessungen
des Spalts (I) zu variieren.
3. Verfahren nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zweite Scheibe (4) mit der Tragkonstruktion (2) entlang einer Translationsachse
(T) axial translatierbar zugeordnet ist.
4. Verfahren nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einführungsmittel (5) mindestens einen Einführungskanal (5) mit mindestens einer
Füllmündung (5a) des Fluids (F) und mindestens einer Ausgabemündung (5b) des Fluids
(F) umfassen, die entsprechend dem im Wesentlichen zentralen Abschnitt der ersten
Scheibe (3) angeordnet ist.
5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindestens ein Abschnitt des Einführungskanals (5) aus mindestens einem Durchgangsloch
besteht, das entlang mindestens eines Abschnitts der ersten Scheibe (3) und/oder der
zweiten Scheibe (4) ausgebildet ist.
6. Verfahren nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 4 und 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Ausgabemündung (5b) mindestens eine Öffnung aufweist, die auf einer Oberfläche
der ersten Scheibe (3) und/oder der zweiten Scheibe (4), die dem Spalt (I) zugewandt
ist, entsprechend dem im Wesentlichen zentralen Abschnitt der ersten Scheibe (3) ausgebildet
ist.
7. Verfahren nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorrichtung (1) mindestens einen Sammelkanal (7) umfasst, der entsprechend mindestens
eines Umfangsabschnitts der ersten Scheibe (3) angeordnet ist und in der Lage ist,
das Fluid (F) zu sammeln, das dispergierte Nanopartikel (P) enthält.
8. Verfahren nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Betriebsmittel (9) mindestens eine Welle (10) umfassen, die der Tragkonstruktion
(2) axial drehbar zugeordnet ist, der ersten Scheibe (3) integral zugeordnet ist und
mit Motormitteln verbindbar ist.
9. Verfahren nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Tragkonstruktion (2) Abdeckmittel (2a, 2b) der ersten und zweiten Scheiben (3,
4) umfasst.
10. Verwendung des Verfahrens nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche für
die Dispersion von Kohlenstoff-Nanoröhren und Graphen in duroplastischen Polymeren.
1. Procédé pour la dispersion de nanoparticules (P) dans un fluide (F), dans lequel il
comprend au moins les étapes suivantes :
- la fourniture d'un appareil (1) comprenant une structure de support (2), au moins
un premier disque (3) associé à ladite structure de support (2) pouvant tourner axialement
autour d'un axe de rotation et pourvu d'une première surface plate (3a), au moins
un deuxième disque (4) associé à ladite structure de support (2) et pourvu d'une deuxième
surface plate (4a), ledit premier disque (3) et ledit deuxième disque (4) étant agencés
parallèlement l'un à l'autre et sensiblement fermés et ladite première surface plate
(3a) et ladite deuxième surface plate (4a) se faisant face et étant parallèles l'une
à l'autre pour définir un interstice (I), des moyens d'introduction (5) pour introduire,
à l'intérieur dudit interstice (I) et en correspondance avec une portion sensiblement
centrale dudit premier disque (3), un fluide (F) contenant des agglomérats de nanoparticules
(P) à disperser, des moyens de fonctionnement (9) associés, de manière opérationnelle,
audit premier disque (3) et aptes à faire tourner ledit premier disque (3) autour
dudit axe de rotation, des moyens d'ajustement (14) pour ajuster la distance d'au
moins l'un desdits premier et deuxième disques (3, 4) à l'autre desdits premier et
deuxième disques (3, 4), dans lequel lesdits moyens d'ajustement (14) comprennent
un mécanisme d'ajustement de micromètre à vis (15) associé à au moins l'un desdits
premier et deuxième disques (3, 4), et des moyens élastiques (18) configurés pour
éliminer le jeu possible desdits moyens d'ajustement (14) ;
- par lesdits moyens d'introduction (5), l'introduction, à l'intérieur dudit interstice
(I) entre lesdites première et deuxième surfaces plates (3a, 4a), dudit fluide (F)
contenant ledit agglomérat de nanoparticules (P) à disperser ;
- par lesdits moyens de fonctionnement (9), la rotation dudit premier disque (3) autour
dudit axe de rotation pour soumettre ledit fluide (F) à l'intérieur dudit interstice
(I) à un champ complexe de forces, dans le but de produire des forces de coupure aptes
à séparer ledit agglomérat de nanoparticules (P), en dispersant les nanoparticules
(P) à l'intérieur dudit fluide (F),
- par lesdits moyens élastiques (18), la poussée d'au moins l'un desdits premier et
deuxième disques (3, 4) dans la direction de la pression appliquée par ledit fluide
(F) entre les disques proprement dits, lesdits moyens élastiques (18) étant aptes
à éliminer le jeu possible entre une vis et un écrou dudit mécanisme d'ajustement
de micromètre à vis (15).
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins l'un desdits premier et deuxième disques (3, 4) est mobile proche / à l'opposé
de l'autre desdits premier et deuxième disques (3, 4), la variation de la distance
entre ledit premier disque (3) et ledit deuxième disque (4) étant apte à faire varier
les dimensions dudit interstice (I).
3. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit deuxième disque (4) est associé, de manière à pouvoir se déplacer en translation
axiale, à ladite structure de support (2) le long d'un axe de translation (T).
4. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'introduction (5) comprennent au moins un canal d'introduction (5)
ayant au moins une bouche de chargement (5a) dudit fluide (F) et au moins une bouche
de distribution (5b) dudit fluide (F) agencée en correspondance avec ladite portion
sensiblement centrale du premier disque (3).
5. Procédé selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins une section dudit canal d'introduction (5) se compose d'au moins un trou
traversant réalisé le long d'au moins une portion dudit premier disque (3) et/ou dudit
deuxième disque (4).
6. Procédé selon les revendications 4 et 5, caractérisé en ce que ladite bouche de distribution (5b) comprend au moins une ouverture constituée sur
une surface dudit premier disque (3) et/ou dudit deuxième disque (4) faisant face
vers ledit interstice (I), en correspondance avec ladite portion sensiblement centrale
du premier disque (3).
7. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit appareil (1) comprend au moins un canal de collecte (7) agencé en correspondance
avec au moins une portion de périmètre dudit premier disque (3) et apte à collecter
ledit fluide (F) contenant des nanoparticules (P) dispersées.
8. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de fonctionnement (9) comprennent au moins un arbre (10) associé,
de manière à pouvoir tourner axialement, à ladite structure de support (2), associé
intégralement audit premier disque (3) et pouvant être associé à des moyens motorisés.
9. Procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ladite structure de support (2) comprend des moyens de couverture (2a, 2b) desdits
premier et deuxième disques (3, 4).
10. Utilisation du procédé selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes pour
la dispersion de nanotubes de carbone et graphène à l'intérieur de polymères thermodurcis
sables.