In January 2022, the plant manufacturer and process expert Glatt Ingenieurtechnik from Weimar expanded its laboratory capacity for powder synthesis in its own technology center. For the first time, the new plant ensures a homogeneous process temperature over the entire length of the reactor or the targeted adjustment of temperature gradients. This allows different process steps to be combined.
A new ProAPP 80 HT laboratory plant was installed, which significantly expands the application area of powder synthesis in a pulsating gas stream. This is made possible by a constant temperature over the entire length of the reactor — the range extends from room temperature to 1,300 °C. With this technology, high-temperature phases can be generated in the powders to be processed and frozen by extremely rapid cooling at the end of the reactor. Such metastable states often exhibit improved properties compared to the equilibrium state and offer potential for completely new applications, for example in areas of energy and medical technology. Some possible applications are economically more attractive, because more powerful and environmentally friendly battery materials or better tolerated as well as longer lasting materials for ceramic implants and prostheses in medicine.
Even more efficient process sequences
Thanks to the sequential design of the additional reactor heater, temperature gradients can be selectively set during synthesis. This makes it possible to separate the actual particle generation or drying process from the downstream thermal treatment of the powder particles. Where two different process steps were previously required, one run is now sufficient.
“Demand from our customers for the technology we have developed for powder synthesis in a pulsating gas stream has risen continuously. The same applies to the need to produce high-performance materials at higher process temperatures. Since it is our declared goal to explore innovative paths with our customers, we have expanded our technology center in Weimar accordingly.”
- Dr. Viktor Drescher, Product Manager Thermal Powder Synthesis
With the new plant, the company is expanding its laboratory capacity. At the same time, it is the cornerstone for more efficient process design and opens up a much wider process window for customers to conduct feasibility trials for the development of innovative powder materials. The developed products can be manufactured on the plant in contract manufacturing. For industrial application with scale-up to the required capacity, Glatt Ingenieurtechnik builds synthesis reactors on behalf of customers.
