High throughput mechanical alloying and screening

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus and methods for conducting ball milling operations in a high throughput manner. Also provided are devices and methods for high throughput screening of alloys and other materials to identify those that have desired gas storage properties.

1 . A high throughput ball milling apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a rotary platform which rotates about a first axis;    (b) a plurality of receptacles that are rotatably supported on the rotary platform, wherein each receptacle rotates about an axis that is substantially parallel to the first axis and is configured to hold at least one multiwell ball milling fixture; and    (c) a motor in drive relation to the rotary platform that provides rotational forces thereto.    
     
     
         2 . The high throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacles comprise fasteners that hold the multiwell ball milling fixture in place.  
     
     
         3 . The high-throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the fasteners comprise bolts or clamps.  
     
     
         4 . The high throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each receptacle is configured to hold two or more multiwell ball milling fixtures.  
     
     
         5 . The high throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each receptacle is configured to hold at least ten multiwell ball milling fixtures.  
     
     
         6 . The high throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least four receptacles.  
     
     
         7 . The high throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least ten receptacles.  
     
     
         8 . The high throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each multiwell ball milling fixture comprises at least two wells.  
     
     
         9 . The high throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each multiwell ball milling fixture comprises at least ten wells.  
     
     
         10 . The high throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each multiwell ball milling fixture comprises at least 100 wells.  
     
     
         11 . The high throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor means is further in drive relation to the receptacles and provides rotational forces thereto.  
     
     
         12 . The high throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a second motor that is in drive relation to the receptacles and provides rotational forces thereto.  
     
     
         13 . The high throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary platform rotates at a first rotational speed and the receptacles rotate at a second rotational speed, which second rotational speed is the same as or different from the first rotational speed.  
     
     
         14 . The high throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first rotational speed is greater than the second rotational speed.  
     
     
         15 . The high throughput ball milling apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first rotational speed is less than the second rotational speed.