This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project will apply novel Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technology for the encapsulating of ultrafine particle surfaces used in certain advanced materials for aerospace applications and drug delivery. Ultrafine sized iron particles will be nanocoated with alumina providing film thicknesses of 50, 25, 12.5, 6.3, 3.2, 1.6, and 0.8 nanometers. The particle nanocoating will be carried out in a fluidized bed process developed at the University of Colorado. The produced particles will be characterized for film thickness, particle size distribution, surface area, and film coverage uniformity. They will be evaluated for coercivity, remanent magnetization, hysteresis loss, and oxidation resistance. Nanocoated iron particle filled epoxy composites will be fabricated and tested for electromagnetic transmission/reflection. Commercially, this powerful and versatile processing method can encapsulate ultrafine particles with ceramic nanolayers to offer unparalleled control of coating thickness ( 0.1 nm) relative to more conventional methods. Such ultrathin, chemically bonded, conformal coatings on individual primary particles provide for materials opportunities never before realized . Envisioned applications include novel ferromagnetic materials for artificial dielectrics for microwave lens antennas, radar crossection reduction materials, and drug delivery.
