Abstract: A system and method for treating additive powder is provided. The method may include positioning the additive powder within a reactor chamber defined by the reactor; evacuating residual gases from the reactor chamber; increasing a reactor content temperature within the reactor chamber to a target temperature; agitating the additive powder; and injecting a gas mixture into the reactor chamber. The gas mixture includes a reactive gas for modifying a surface chemistry of the additive powder.

Abstract: A powder treatment assembly and method for treating a feedstock powder of feedstock particles includes directing the feedstock powder into a plasma chamber within a reactor, exposing the feedstock powder to a plasma field generated by a plasma source to form a treated powder having treated particles with an increased average sphericity relative to the feedstock particles, and supplying a hot gas sheath flow downstream of the plasma chamber, the hot gas sheath flow substantially surrounding the treated powder.

Abstract: An electron beam melting machine and a method of operation are provided which maintains constant energy absorption within a build layer by adjusting an incident energy level to compensate for energy not absorbed by the additive powder. This unabsorbed energy is detected in the form of electron emissions, which include secondary electrons, backscattered electrons, and/or electrons which are transmitted through the build platform.

Abstract: A powder treatment assembly and method for treating a feedstock powder of feedstock particles includes directing the feedstock powder into a plasma chamber within a reactor, exposing the feedstock powder to a plasma field generated by a plasma source to form a treated powder having treated particles with an increased average sphericity relative to the feedstock particles, and supplying a hot gas sheath flow downstream of the plasma chamber, the hot gas sheath flow substantially surrounding the treated powder.

Abstract: A system and method for treating additive powder includes a reactor configured for receiving a large volume of additive powder. An evacuation subsystem removes injected or residual gases from the reactor chamber by purging the chamber with an inert gas or drawing a vacuum within the chamber. A heating assembly raises the reactor content temperature of the reactor chamber while the additive powder is continuously stirred. A gas mixture including a small amount of reactive gas is injected into the reactor chamber to modify the surface chemistry of the additive powder before the additive powder is slowly cooled down.

Abstract: Aluminum-based metallic powders, along with their methods of production and formation, are provided. The Al-based metallic powders are formed with an increased amount of oxygen within at least a portion of the particles of the powder. The Al-based metallic powders show improved flowability.

Abstract: An electron beam melting machine and a method of operation are provided which maintains constant energy absorption within a build layer by adjusting an incident energy level to compensate for energy not absorbed by the additive powder. This unabsorbed energy is detected in the form of electron emissions, which include secondary electrons, backscattered electrons, and/or electrons which are transmitted through the build platform.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for producing single-wall carbon nanotubes. The apparatus comprises a plasma torch having a plasma tube adapted to receive an inert gas and form an inert gas plasma; a feeder adapted to direct a carbon-containing substance and a metal catalyst towards said inert gas plasma so that the carbon-containing substance and the metal catalyst contact said inert gas plasma downstream of where said inert gas is introduced in said plasma tube, to thereby form a plasma comprising atoms or molecules of carbon and the atoms of said metal; and a condenser for condensing the atoms or molecules of carbon and the atoms of said metal to form single-wall carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for depositing nanometric filamentary structures. The method comprises passing a gaseous phase comprising the nanometric filamentary structures through a space defined between at least two electrodes generating an electric field, for depositing the nanometric filamentary structures on at least one of the electrodes; and at least substantially preventing the deposited nanometric filamentary structures from bridging the electrodes during the deposition. The invention also relates to an apparatus for depositing nanometric filamentary structures as well as to methods and apparatuses for monitoring the production of nanometric filamentary structures.

Abstract: There is provided a method for purifying carbon filamentary structures contaminated with magnetic metal particles. The method comprises submitting a gaseous phase comprising said carbon filamentary structures contaminated with magnetic metal particles, to an inhomogeneous magnetic field for at least partially trapping said magnetic metal particles, thereby reducing the proportion of said magnetic metal particles present in said gaseous phase. The method is particularly useful for purifying carbon filamentary structures such as multi-wall carbon nanotubes, single-wall carbon nanotubes or carbon fibers. An apparatus for purifying such carbon filamentary structures contaminated with magnetic metal particles is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a macroscopic assembly of nanometric filamentary structures. The macroscopic assembly comprises a plurality of microscopic assemblies substantially aligned in a same direction and connected together. Each of the microscopic assemblies comprises a plurality of members defining a plurality of spaces therebetween. Each of the members comprises a nanometric filamentary structure or a bundle of nanometric filamentary structures, wherein the macroscopic assembly has a density of less than 8 mg/cm3. The is also provided a method for prerparing such a macroscopic assembly.