Spherical ceramic-glass nanocomposite dielectrics made from ceramics and glasses that are separately pre-milled by mechanical ball milling using selected ball-to-powder weight ratios and combined to form a mixture that is ball milled. A stable liquid suspension of the milled mixture including an added dispersant such as polyacrylic acid to improve uniformity is spray dried through a nozzle and recovered product is annealed. The novel dielectrics have a microstructure where ceramic primary particles are uniformly distributed and fully embedded in a glass matrix. The dielectrics have a mean particle size of about 1-20 um and a sphericity of about 0.8 or higher which are suitable for fabricating multilayer ceramic capacitors for high temperature applications. The novel dielectrics afford decreased sintering temperature, enhanced breakdown strength, lower dielectric lose tangent, and lower costs. Calcium titanate zirconate with manganese-doping-based or barium titanate-based dielectric ceramics and alkali-free borosilicate glass produce superior nanocomposite dielectrics.

The present disclosure relates to hollow core granules, products incorporating the hollow core granules, and methods of making the hollow core granules. The hollow core granules can comprise at least one wall surrounding a cavity that is devoid of any solid or liquid so as to define a hollow core, the at least one wall comprising a plurality of individual particles of at least one wall forming material, the plurality of individual particles sufficiently bound together so that the at least one wall is structurally self-sustaining. The hollow core granules further can include a binder material present in the at least one wall. The hollow core granules can be useful as a standalone material and/or may be useful in preparing a variety of products wherein the hollow core granules may be mixed or otherwise combined with further components. The disclosure further provides methods of making such hollow core granules.

The present disclosure relates to hollow core granules, products incorporating the hollow core granules, and methods of making the hollow core granules. The hollow core granules can comprise at least one wall surrounding a cavity that is devoid of any solid or liquid so as to define a hollow core, the at least one wall comprising a plurality of individual particles of at least one wall forming material, the plurality of individual particles sufficiently bound together so that the at least one wall is structurally self-sustaining. The hollow core granules further can include a binder material present in the at least one wall. The hollow core granules can be useful as a standalone material and/or may be useful in preparing a variety of products wherein the hollow core granules may be mixed or otherwise combined with further components. The disclosure further provides methods of making such hollow core granules.

Methods, processes, and apparatuses for preparing and transporting bitumen. Bitumen may be prilled such that a bitumen product comprising a prill core and a non-stick coating is produced. The non-stick coating may comprise asphaltenes and the prill core may comprise bitumen, deasphalted oil, or both bitumen and deasphalted oil. The resultant non-stick coated prills have reduced adhesion to transportation vessels and other non-stick coated prills at a temperature below an adhesion temperature, facilitating transport.

Methods, processes, and apparatuses for preparing and transporting bitumen. Bitumen may be prilled such that a bitumen product comprising a prill core and a non-stick coating is produced. The non-stick coating may comprise asphaltenes and the prill core may comprise bitumen, deasphalted oil, or both bitumen and deasphalted oil. The resultant non-stick coated prills have reduced adhesion to transportation vessels and other non-stick coated prills at a temperature below an adhesion temperature, facilitating transport.

A fluidized bed spray drying system for drying liquid into powder including an elongated drying chamber, a spray nozzle assembly at an upper end of the drying chamber and a powder collection chamber at a lower end of the drying chamber. A drying gas inlet is provided in the powder collection chamber and a drying gas outlet is provided at an upper end of the drying chamber. A plurality of cylindrical filter elements at the upper end of the drying chamber are in communication with the exhaust gas outlet for filtering drying gas borne powder from drying gas exiting the drying chamber.

A fluidized bed spray drying system for drying liquid into powder including an elongated drying chamber, a spray nozzle assembly at an upper end of the drying chamber and a powder collection chamber at a lower end of the drying chamber. A drying gas inlet is provided in the powder collection chamber and a drying gas outlet is provided at an upper end of the drying chamber. A plurality of cylindrical filter elements at the upper end of the drying chamber are in communication with the exhaust gas outlet for filtering drying gas borne powder from drying gas exiting the drying chamber.

A method for granulating a slurry in a fluidized bed granulator having a main longitudinal direction from a seed end where granulation is initiated, to a product discharge end where granules are discharged from the fluidized bed granulator, including at least one fluidized bed compartment, an injection section and a granulation section, separated by a bottom plate including one or more injection nozzles, wherein a feed slurry is provided to the injection section, wherein a first fraction of the feed slurry provided to the injection section is injected into the granulation section through the one or more injection nozzles and a second fraction of the feed slurry, being the remainder of the feed slurry, is passed through the injection section without being injected into the granulation section. A fluidized bed granulator for the granulation of slurries for fertilizer products such as UAS according to the method of the invention.

A method for granulating a slurry in a fluidized bed granulator having a main longitudinal direction from a seed end where granulation is initiated, to a product discharge end where granules are discharged from the fluidized bed granulator, including at least one fluidized bed compartment, an injection section and a granulation section, separated by a bottom plate including one or more injection nozzles, wherein a feed slurry is provided to the injection section, wherein a first fraction of the feed slurry provided to the injection section is injected into the granulation section through the one or more injection nozzles and a second fraction of the feed slurry, being the remainder of the feed slurry, is passed through the injection section without being injected into the granulation section. A fluidized bed granulator for the granulation of slurries for fertilizer products such as UAS according to the method of the invention.

A method of preparation of titanium and titanium alloy powder for 3D printing is based on a fluidized bed jet milling technique. Hydride-dehydrate titanium powder and titanium alloy powder are used as main raw material powder, jet milling and shaping are carried out in shielding atmosphere of nitrogen or argon, and finally high-performance titanium and titanium alloy powder meeting the requirements of 3D printing process is obtained. The titanium and titanium alloy powder prepared using this method has a narrow particle size distribution, approximately spherical shape, and controllable oxygen content.