Modelling of the in-flight synthesis of TaC nanoparticles from liquid precursor in thermal plasma jet

Abstract

A simple and efficient numerical model describing the processes of nucleation, growth and transport of multi-component nanoparticles is developed. The approach is conceptually similar to the classical method of moments but can be applied to co-condensation of several substances. The processes of homogeneous nucleation, heterogeneous growth, and coagulations due to Brownian collisions are considered in combination with the convective and diffusive transport of particles and reacting gases within multi-dimensional geometries. The model is applied to the analysis of multi-component co-condensation of TaC nanoparticles within a dc plasma reactor. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd.