Preparation of compositions by melt spinning

Abstract

Inorganic compositions were prepared by melt spinning. An inorganic melt was sent to a spinning wheel. As the melt contacts the wheel, it cools and is converted into a solid composition. A melt prepared from lanthanum halide powder and cerium halide powder was converted to a scintillator product of nanoparticles embedded in a glassy matrix.

1 . A process for preparing a composition, comprising:
 sending an inorganic melt to a spinning wheel, whereby the melt cools after it contacts the wheel and is converted into a product that comprises nanoparticles embedded in a glassy matrix.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of sending the inorganic melt to a spinning wheel further comprises sending the inorganic melt through a narrow nozzle. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the product comprises a scintillator. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic melt is sent to the spinning wheel under an inert atmosphere that comprises argon, nitrogen, helium, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic melt is sent to the spinning wheel in a continuous process. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic melt is sent to the spinning wheel in a batch type process. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic melt comprises Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, B, C, N, O, F, Cl, Br, I, At, Al, Si, P, S, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Po, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic melt comprises an oxide, a nitride, an oxynitride, a sulfide, a phosphide, a selenide, a carbide, an oxycarbide, a boride, a halide, an oxyhalide, an organometallic compound, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising forming an inorganic melt from a powder mixture comprising lanthanum halide and rare earth material. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the weight ratio of lanthanum halide powder to rare earth material is in a range of from about 10,000:1 to about 1:100. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the lanthanum halide comprises lanthanum fluoride, lanthanum chloride, lanthanum bromide, lanthanum iodide, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the solid composition is of the formula M 1-x Br 3-y Cl y :Q x , wherein M is a lanthanide or an actinide, wherein x is less than or equal to one, wherein Q is a rare earth element, and wherein y is less than or equal to 3. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein M is chosen from yttrium, lanthanum, gadolinium, lutetium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein Q is chosen from cerium, samarium, europium, terbium, and praseodymium. 
     
     
         15 . A product prepared by a process that comprises sending an inorganic melt to a spinning wheel that cools the melt after the melt contacts the spinning wheel, whereby the melt is converted into a product that comprises nanoparticles of a composition embedded in a glassy matrix of essentially the same composition. 
     
     
         16 . The product of  claim 15 , wherein said product comprises a scintillator. 
     
     
         17 . The product of  claim 15 , wherein said product is of the formula M 1-x Br 3-y Cl y :Q x , wherein M is a lanthanide or an actinide, wherein x is less than one, wherein Q is a rare earth element, and wherein y is less than or equal to 3. 
     
     
         18 . The product of  claim 15 , wherein M is chosen from yttrium, lanthanum, gadolinium, lutetium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The product of  claim 17 , wherein Q is chosen from cerium, samarium, europium, terbium, and praseodymium. 
     
     
         20 . The product of  claim 15 , wherein the product comprises Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, B, C, N, O, F, Cl, Br, I, At, Al, Si, P, S, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Po, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The product of  claim 15 , wherein said product comprises a halide, an oxide, a nitride, an oxynitride, a sulfide, a phosphide, a selenide, a carbide, an oxycarbide, a boride, a halide, an oxyhalide, an organometallic compound, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The product of  claim 15 , wherein said product comprises CeBr 3 , YAlO 3 :Ce, LuAlO 3 :Ce, Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12 , PbWO 4 , CdWO 4 , Lu 2 SiO 5 :Ce, Y 2 SiO 5 :Ce, MgF 2 :Ce, CaF 2 :Ce, BaF 2 :Ce, LaCl 3 :Ce, K 2 LaCl 5 :Ce, LaBr 3 :Ce, RbGd 2 Br 3 :Ce, Csl:Na, Csl, Csl:Tl, Nal:Tl, ZnS:Ag, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The product of  claim 15 , wherein said product comprises nanoparticles. 
     
     
         24 . A composition that consists essentially of nanoparticles of a composition embedded in a glassy matrix of essentially the same composition as that of the nanoparticles. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said composition is of the formula M 1-x Br 3-y Cl y :Q x , wherein M is a lanthanide or an actinide, wherein x is less than or equal to one, wherein y is less than or equal to 3. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein M is chosen from yttrium, lanthanum, gadolinium, lutetium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein Q is chosen from cerium, samarium, europium, terbium, and praseodymium.